(A) General.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant of a property to permit weeds, grass, or other plant growth to grow to a height exceeding ten inches on a parcel of property of two acres or less in size. For any property exceeding two acres in size that adjoins on any side a parcel containing a residential or business structure, weeds or grass shall not exceed ten inches in height for a lateral distance of at least 50 feet from the adjoining residential or business property line in order to create a mowed buffer zone. In such cases, the Health Authority may also require that weeds and grass be periodically mowed across the frontage of said property to a point at least 50 feet in lateral depth from the front property line.
(2) Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, but not trees, shrubs, bushes, or similar woody vegetation.
(B) Exceptions. The term WEEDS shall not include agricultural crops, ornamental plants, or cultivated flowers or gardens, including, but not limited to, native species plantings used for aesthetic and/or wildlife promotion, and/or to offset and control soil loss from erosion. The cutting of weeds and grasses shall also not apply to conservation areas, wildlife preserves, and public lands, or ravines, terraced slopes, and other areas with steep slopes requiring dense vegetation for erosion control.
(C) Noxious weeds. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. A NOXIOUS WEED means any plant declared by the state to be a noxious weed pursuant to 505 ILCS 100/1 et seq.
(Ord. passed - -2016) Penalty, see § 90.99