TOWSON, Md. - Armed with a tape measure, Sophia Jennings keeps her eyes open for overgrown weeds and the owners of the yards that have them.

Jennings, a Baltimore County code enforcement officer, checks on residents who are not in compliance with rules about overgrown lawns.

In most area jurisdictions, letting grass grow more than a foot high, or 8 inches in Baltimore city, is against the law.

In some jurisdictions, the grass "cops" come in the form of code enforcement officers. In others, public works officials or environmental health workers are assigned to the task.

"We actually have a grass ruler," said Tommie Houck, chief of zoning enforcement for Harford County.

The number of complaints varies by county and so does the process that follows the complaint, although each county uses some form of notification process and time for landowners to comply with the law.

Officials say the goal is the same everywhere: for property owners to cut back the grass and weeds cluttering their land.

While most eventually do, for those who don't, officials in Baltimore and several counties said they step in and do the landscaping themselves, sending out government crews or contractors to slice through weeds and grass that have grown several feet high.

Not only are overgrown weeds and grass a nuisance, officials say, but they also can become breeding grounds for insects and rats.

The cost of the cut, which can run into the hundreds of dollars, is passed on to the property owner through a bill or a lien attached to the property, officials said.
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What a waste of time and money to hire people to measure grass! We have laws like that around here, but we don't hire people to just check for grass. Cops do it and then the city will get into it... this is just stupid.

As I read this, the song, "Too Much Time on My Hands" seemed so appropriate. You know, there are people out there that are that anal-retentive. If my purpose in life was to measure other peoples lawns, I think I would do the world a favor and kill myself. (j/k)

Granted, there are those, who for whatever reason, cannot keep their yards looking decent. Nobody says they have to spend tons of moolah on fancy yardwork, but damn....at least mow your lawn. There are a few people on my street that cannot, or will not, simply mow. For those of you who own property, you can understand how these eyesores can get on your nerves. Hence, they drive the property value down.

Wow, I've totally gone and contradicted myself. (hehehe) It's just the split personality disorder....or so they say.

I still think measuring is a waste of time and tax dollars. There, I've made a stand on the issue.

There will come a day in the not to distant future when a cop will pull you over for speeding and after taking your drivers license and scanning it, will say something like:

I'm giving you a citation for speeding and I am also giving you a 'warning' that you have not been purchasing enough vegetables. You are in violation of Eating Regulation #4897.3 Paragraph C..which states that ...the Minimum Daily Requirement of fruits and vegetables will be met by every citizen...Mr. Kratos ...you haven't purchased any fruit or vegetables in 2 months....you have 2 boys and 1 girl...they must have their Minimum Daily Requirement as must you...a CPS officer will be contacting you in the future.

think I'm joking don't you...

I believe this law is in effect to keep prperty value up and not have the city look crappy. Not enough cops to actually enforce something like this imo.

Saltaire in Bradford are policed by the local government to ensure the houses are all maintained to a proper level of acceptance. They have to paint the windows, doors and garden gates every 12 months, maintain their yards and have their guttering painted (cast iron guttering) every 8 months. Even though all these property's are privately owned?

"This is my dad *points to father* he's a police officer. He watches people's grass all day long! look! he has his very own ruler too! *beams with pride*"

why on earth would you let your grass grow till its a foot high anyways? that just seems so...odd.

Thats just pathetic

Your property is privetly owned but your property is located in the city. Either way its a waste of manpower.