Overgrown Lots and Code Violations in Lehigh Acres
An overgrown lot in Lehigh Acres can draw a Lee County code violation notice. The county's lot mowing ordinance treats grass and weeds over 12 inches on certain unimproved lots near developed property as a nuisance, gives the owner 21 days to fix it, and lets the county mow and bill the owner if nothing happens. For owners who live out of state, a mailed notice can be easy to miss. This guide covers the ordinance, deadlines, fees and liens, looking up a case, burrows to watch for when mowing, and the options.
The ordinance in plain terms
Lee County's Lot Mowing Ordinance No. 14-08, adopted April 1, 2014, applies to all of unincorporated Lee County, which includes Lehigh Acres. It defines nuisance vegetation as grasses and weeds that are "not regularly cared for and maintained" and taller than 12 inches. For a lot to be a nuisance under it, all of these have to be true:
- the growth covers more than half of an unimproved lot,
- it's within 150 feet of developed property next to it, and
- the lot is in a Future Urban Area or a Platted Subdivision.
Lehigh Acres is pre-platted, so most of its lots would seem to fall in a platted subdivision. Code Enforcement can confirm how your lot is classified.
Notices and deadlines
| Step | What the ordinance says |
|---|---|
| Public notice | The county publishes a notice every April and October. |
| Violation notice | Sent to the owner by first-class mail. |
| Time to fix it | 21 days to abate the violation. |
| Hearing | 15 days to request one. |
Because the violation notice travels by first-class mail, a mailing address that doesn't reach you can eat into those 21 days. Owners who live elsewhere should make sure the county has an address they actually check.
If the lot isn't cut
Under the ordinance, the county can have the lot mowed and charge the owner the actual cost plus a $150 administrative fee. From there:
- The owner has 30 days to pay before the charge becomes a lien, with interest.
- If it's still unpaid after 3 months, the county can collect by foreclosure or a money judgment.
- A third notice within 12 months carries a $450 fee.
Put together: one missed notice can mean a mowing bill, $150 on top, a lien if it sits for 30 days, and a higher fee if it keeps happening.
Exemptions and larger parcels
- Land with an agricultural classification under Chapter 193 of the Florida Statutes is exempt.
- On parcels over 1 acre, only the vegetation within 150 feet of qualifying developed property counts.
Check the current version
This summary is from the ordinance as adopted in 2014. Ask Code Enforcement whether it has been amended since and how mowing of violating lots is being handled now: 239-533-8895, CodeEnforcement@leegov.com, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Looking up a case
Lee County's Code Enforcement page has a case search by case number, address or parcel; case numbers start with "VIO." The county doesn't take anonymous complaints, citing section 125.69 of the Florida Statutes. Lehigh is unincorporated, so its cases are county cases; Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Estero and Fort Myers Beach handle their own.
Before the mower goes in: burrows
FWC's burrowing owl guidelines allow lawn maintenance that doesn't collapse or flood burrows, with this advice: "Avoid mowing over burrow entrances and use light equipment (e.g., a weed trimmer)." FWC defines a gopher tortoise disturbance as any type of work within 25 feet of a burrow, so if there's a tortoise burrow on the lot, ask FWC (850-488-4676) what precautions it expects for routine mowing.
Flag burrows before any crew arrives and tell them where they are. See burrowing owls and gopher tortoises.
Mow, mulch or clear?
- Mowing fits a lot that's mostly grass and weeds. It solves today's height problem and needs repeating.
- Forestry mulching fits a lot grown up in Brazilian pepper, palmetto and saplings that a mower can't handle. It brings the lot back to chips and open ground in a single pass. See forestry mulching.
- Full clearing makes sense when you're about to build. See lot clearing for a new home.
Whichever you choose, ask how often the lot will need attention afterward to stay under 12 inches.
Other code issues on a vacant lot
- Illegal dumping: Lee County Solid Waste, 239-533-8000.
- Clearing done without a required permit: Environmental Sciences, which can issue stop work orders and notices of violation.
- Prohibited invasive plants such as Brazilian pepper on a developed property: the county guide says this may lead to Code Enforcement action.
Who this page is not for
If your lot is inside a city in Lee County, that city's code office and its own rules apply, not the county ordinance. And if you have a hearing coming up, the details of your case are a question for Code Enforcement or a lawyer, not a contractor.
Overgrown lot questions
How tall can the grass get?
Under the ordinance, the line is 12 inches, for lots that meet its other conditions: growth over half the unimproved lot, within 150 feet of developed property, in a platted subdivision or Future Urban Area.
How long do I have after a notice?
21 days to abate, and 15 days to ask for a hearing.
What if I don't pay the county's mowing bill?
After 30 days it becomes a lien with interest, and after 3 months unpaid the county can collect by foreclosure or money judgment.
Can I find out who reported my lot?
The county says it doesn't accept anonymous complaints. Ask Code Enforcement what it can share about your case.
Will one cleanup fix it for good?
No. Grass and brush grow back, and a third notice within 12 months carries a $450 fee. Plan for upkeep.
Getting help
Call or send the form with the lot's address or parcel number and whether you've had a notice. Your request goes to one independent local contractor, who can look at the lot and quote mowing, mulching or clearing in writing. The referral is free.
Got a lot in Lehigh Acres that needs clearing?
Call or send the short form. Your request goes to one independent local contractor who can walk the lot and put a price in writing. There's no charge for the referral.