Can anyone tell me what the city ordinance is concerning unmown lawns? I have a couple of neighbors that mow their front yards, but not the back. The back yards are about knee deep in weeds and grass. Is their something I can do or someone I need to call. One of my neighbors called the City and they said since the fronts were mowed then there was nothing the city could do.

Do you have a Homeowner's Association? I know ours is brutal on weeds.. front or back. If you can see them from the street and don't cut them down in a timely fashion, they send out someone and bill you. If you don't pay that, lien on the property.

I would try the Fire Marshall. Call them and tell them you are worried about fire danger due to the the brush surrounding your home.. see if that helps.

How can you see their backyards? Is it visible from the front yard and street?

No we don't have an association, I live in the area hit by the May 3rd tornado. Their back yards are adjacent to mine. Thanks for the info about the fire marshall.

You can also call code enforcement.
They won't act unless there is a complaint, but usually will come out about back yards. (They did when I reported my neighbors for the condition of their backyard)

In addition to a fire hazard, there could also be rodent and insect issues!

I tried code enforcement, and they told me that if it is the back yard there is nothing they could do because the ordinance stated front yards only.

Check to see if they own the property. Contact the owner of the property.

MWC Code enforcement....hehe.

The house in question is a habitat for humanity house built after the May 3rd tornado. I found out this weekend that it was paid off after the owners husband died a couple of months after they moved in. One of my neighbors tried calling the city and they told her that they made an effort to mow the front yard, and so they could do nothing about the back even though the weeds/grass is almost waist high now.

You know, sometimes weed and grass killers get sprayed where you really don't want them and the grass dies right off.