Residents Who Refuse to Maintain Lawns

Residents who refuse to maintain their lawns in Berkeley will receive a five-day notice before potentially being slapped with a hefty fine. On Monday, the Berkeley City Council passed an ordinance abolishing the previous practice of sending several notices to the owner before issuing a citation to cover the cost of the city mowing. Now the city will issue one notice and then charge a fine of at least $175, the hourly rate to send city personnel to a job.

If it takes two hours to cut the grass and weeds from a property, the owner will be charged $350. City Manager De'Carlon Seewood said the move is meant to deter repeat offenders and save on administrative costs.