An individual's perception of an overgrown property can differ from person to person.

The council cannot take action on untidy or unsightly properties. We can only take action on properties that present health or safety risks. 

Generally, an overgrown property has vegetation that is:

• Higher than knee-height grass 
• More than 80% of the property is overgrown 
• It has not been maintained for a long period
• Is harbouring vermin and/or is likely to create unhealthy conditions that impact others
• Please note that snakes and other native animals are not vermin. 

Property - less than 2 hectares

You are responsible for maintaining both your property and the road verge or nature strip to ensure public safety and prevent vermin infestation.

This includes keeping these areas free from long grass, overgrown vegetation, and accumulated waste. Proper maintenance helps deter pests from breeding and ensures that pedestrians can safely and freely access footpaths.

If your property is vacant, Council recommends installing a temporary fence to help prevent illegal dumping.

Rural Property - greater than 2 hectares

For rural properties (greater than 2ha of land), you are required to keep a minimum of a 5 metre perimeter of the property maintained and the road verge or nature strip to prevent weeds from spreading to neighbours and minimise the risk of snakes entering urban areas. 

This includes keeping these areas free from long grass, overgrown vegetation, and accumulated waste. Proper maintenance helps deter pests from breeding and ensures that pedestrians can safely and freely access footpaths.

If your property is vacant, Council recommends installing a temporary fence to help prevent illegal dumping.

If you contact Council, the following steps can be taken:

1. We will send an initial courtesy letter to the property owner advising them of the concerns raised and requesting the property be maintained within 21 days 
   

If you advise the property continues to be overgrown after 28 days:

1. Council will complete an inspection of the property

2. For an unhealthy property Council may issue a formal notice, followed by an order for the land to be maintained 

These matters often take time to resolve because Council is required to allow time for the property owner to take action. Additionally, other factors such as weather and/or an owner with adverse circumstances will impact their ability to maintain the land.

For more information on how Council responds to regulatory matters, refer to Council's Environment & Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy. 

If the property is untidy but not a public health and safety risk, the property owners must resolve their differences between themselves. However, Council may still provide the property owner with information on how to maintain their property to prevent it from becoming overgrown. 

If you're concerned about your neighbour's overgrown property, it's often best to start with a friendly conversation. Politely let them know about your concerns and give them an opportunity to address the issue. Sometimes, neighbours may not be aware of the impact their property has on others, and a respectful conversation can lead to a quick resolution.

Snakes and other native animals are not vermin. All native snakes in NSW are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, and it is illegal to harm them.

Only licensed snake collectors can remove snakes from private properties.

For more information Snakes » Camden Council.