Code Enforcement: Please Don't Blow Grass Clippings Into The Street
Thursday, April 17th, 2025
Spring has sprung in Dalton, which means grass cutting season is once again upon us. City residents can leave their grass clippings and other yard debris at the curb for pickup by the Public Works Department, but the Code Enforcement Unit is asking residents to please never blow their grass clippings into the street. Not only can it pose a potential hazard for motorists or motorcyclists, it can also cause problems in the stormwater system.
"I think sometimes people are concerned that if they leave their grass or leaves on the curb, the claw truck can mess up their grass, so I think that's part of (the reason people blow clippings into the street)," said Dan Lewallen, who supervises Dalton's Code Enforcement Unit. "But one of the legitimate problems with that is that it ends up in the stormwater system. We may have a 24-inch pipe that goes into an 18-inch pipe somewhere and that 18 inch pipe gets clogged with stuff that’s free flowing through the 24, and then you start getting backups and street flooding."
Section 94-208 of the Dalton's Code of Ordinances specifies that it's illegal to blow litter, including yard trimmings, into the street or the City's waterways and stormwater collection system. The Code of Ordinances also requires property owners to keep grass trimmed below a maximum height of 12 inches. The International Property Maintenance Code section on grass (IPMC 302.4) as adopted in the City of Dalton's code of ordinances reads, "premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 12 inches. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens."
The requirement to keep grass and other vegetation under control isn't just about making the city look neat and well-maintained. Allowing lots to become overgrown can provide refuge for rodents like rats and mice to become a public health problem.
"12 inches is quite a bit of leeway," Lewallen said. "We do see it, especially on abandoned properties. Most of the properties that are occupied usually keep their grass under 12 inches, I mean, that's a foot tall. But in some commercial areas where people are using lots for storage they may not pay much attention to the grass there, or also abandoned properties we'll see the grass get too tall."
Lewallen says that the Code Enforcement Unit has not received complaints about tall grass or unkept yards so far this spring, but that complaints usually begin to come in as the season continues.
