Council tightens nuisance code language to include tall weeds in ETJ

The Navasota City Council voted Monday to approve Ordinance 1070325, an amendment that clarifies how the city enforces nuisance abatement for weeds, stagnant water and unsightly matter both inside city limits and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Staff told council that state law allows the city to regulate tall grass within roughly 5,000 feet beyond city limits, but the existing municipal code did not state that clearly. "We work with Carrie on this to really get it cleaned up," a staff member said, noting the change makes enforcement more concrete and consistent with state law. Council members asked about the practical difference between a 12-inch notice threshold and a 48-inch "dangerous weed" threshold. Staff explained that a 12-inch violation typically triggers a notice and allows a week to mow; a 48-inch growth can be declared an immediate public-safety hazard and abated by contractor with the cost billed back to the property owner. "The state law allows you to regulate this within 5,000 feet," staff said. The ordinance passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.