Tall Grass, Weeds A Nuisance In Some OKC Neighborhoods

Many Oklahoma residents have been forced to mow their yards earlier this year. The lack of winter and abundance of rain have caused the grass and the weeds to flourish. And that is causing a growing problem in one northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood.

Weeds over five feet tall have taken over the yard of this abandoned foreclosed home. And while the front yard may look pretty bad, the backyard look seven worse and neighbors are sick of it.  

"I see it every day when I go in my living room and sit on my couch and it's disappointing," said neighbor Jim Orcutt.

Orcutt takes pride in caring of his yard and wishes the city would do something about the house across the street, and others like it.

"Somebody would almost have to get in and pull the weeds before you can cut the grass, otherwise you haven't accomplished anything," Orcutt said.

"The weeds are just out of control," said Patricia Peppers.

Peppers stands at 4' 11", tall making some of the weeds even taller than she is. What's worse is those trying to keep their yards weed-free are fighting a losing battle.

"We are spending tons of money to kill weeds and you can't kill weeds when the wind is blowing seeds like this," said Peppers.

The now vacant house and yard used to look much different back in 2007. The lawn was well kept. The look changed drastically by 2011, before the home was foreclosed on and a bank took over.

News 9 checked, and since then the city has been called three times about the house. Neighbors don't want to see it get any worse, but the city says it has been inundated with over 3,500 calls about tall grass and weed complaints.

The city says they have has hired a contractor to mow, but according to state law, the city cannot come out until the weeds are at least a foot tall.

The city action center says property owners have 10 days to fix a high grass problem or face a fine of more than $300. The city can also file a tax lien on the home if the problem is not corrected.

If you would like to report a home in violation visit this website http://www.okc.gov/action/onlineservicerequest/