This Spring our office received many calls from our constituents regarding overgrowth on private property.  Now that the summer months are upon us, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is encouraging everyone to cut their grass before is grows too long.  D.C. Municipal Regulations Title 14.Section 800.10 requires that weeds are not in place more than seven days. Weeds may be defined as, but are not limited to, poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac and all vegetation at any state of maturity that:

·    Exceeds more than 10 inches tall, is untended, or creates a dense area of shrubbery that is a detriment to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
·    Creates a harbor (including hiding places for persons), or a provides a place to conceal refuse or trash, regardless of height;
·    Develops into deposits, or accumulation of, refuse or trash;
·    Harbors rodents and vermin or provides a refuge for snakes, rats or other rodents;
·    Creates an unpleasant or noxious odor;
·    Constitutes a fire hazard; or
·    Contains grass or weeds that are dead and diseased.

The growing season for weeds and overgrowth is between May 31 and October 31.  Property owners (commercial and residential) are required to maintain their premises in a healthy and sanitary manner free of trash and excessive vegetative growth.  Grass pollen is a common trigger for asthma and allergies. Keeping grass cut can be a part of an overall preventative strategy to control respiratory illness. And remember, excessive growth can harbor rats and other vermin leading to serious public health implications.