Title
Health and Sanitation Ordinance Amendments
Action
Action:
Adopt an ordinance approving amendments to the Health and Sanitation Ordinance (Chapter 10 of the City Code) as recommended by the Housing Committee.
Body
Committee Chair:
LaWana Mayfield, Housing Committee
Staff Resource(s):
Rebecca Hefner, Housing and Neighborhood Services
Jerry Green, Housing and Neighborhood Services
Anna Schleunes, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ Section 10-155 (Overgrown Vegetation) of the Health and Sanitation Ordinance (Ordinance) requires property owners to cut grass, weeds, and vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height. Violations of this section are subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $150.
§ The city has had a pollinator habitat registry program since 2023 (Program), that exempts pollinator habitats from the Ordinance when registered with the city and properly maintained.
§ In 2025, staff worked with community stakeholders to enhance the Program, including expanding the Program to include naturalistic landscapes.
§ In response to community feedback, the mayor referred the Ordinance to the Housing Committee to consider codifying the exemption for registered pollinator habitats and naturalistic landscapes while continuing to ensure safe and sanitary neighborhoods.
§ Alongside the proposed Ordinance amendment, staff are implementing enhanced Program outreach to encourage the creation of pollinator habitats and naturalistic landscapes that support urban wildlife corridors, which play an important role in local environmental health and healthy ecosystems.
Proposed Changes
§ The proposed amendment codifies the exemption for pollinator habitats and naturalistic landscapes when registered with the city and properly maintained by the property owner and includes updates to Chapter 10 of the City Code, Sections 10-1 (Definitions) and 10-155 (Overgrown Vegetation).
§ The amendment will take effect immediately upon City Council’s adoption of the ordinance.
Committee Discussion
§ The Housing Committee (Committee) discussed the policy referral at the January 5, 2026, Committee meeting.
§ The Committee voted unanimously to recommend the amendment to full City Council (Mayfield, Johnson, Mayo, Mazuera Arias, Owens).
§ The Committee Chair provided Council with an overview of the Committee’s recommendations at the January 12, 2026, City Council Meeting.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Ordinance