PALM BAY, Fla. — Grass is growing waist-high near houses in Palm Bay, but the city's code enforcement says it's okay.
Neighbors can't believe the city passed a law that allows some property owners to only cut their grass every two years. They told WFTV it makes them especially worried, because of the city's problem with wildfires.
"If they want to live like this, they should be out in the country someplace and not in the city," said Sandy Farmer.
Farmer, who has his grass cut about every other week, said he doesn't expect others to do the same, but said waiting two years to cut it is ridiculous.
"This is all getting out of hand here," Farmer said.
In the overgrown lot that is right next door to Farmer and his wife, the weeds and the grass have grown almost waist-high and it hasn't even been a year since it was last cut. Farmer is worried how the lot will look in two years.
Farmer also said the brush is fuel for wildfires, like the many Palm Bay residents have seen before.
"It's just a dangerous situation," he said.
The city of Palm Bay said there are 30,000 lots just like it throughout the city. Recently, the city said it changed its ordinance so owners of the properties only have to mow them once every two years. City Manager Lee Feldman said it is still safe, according to the fire department, and more reasonable than the old code.
"What was happening is folks were calling, some that didn't even live next to the property, and just asking if it'd be cut back and, under our code, that could happen every six weeks," Feldman said.
Within two years, Farmer fears the grass will be over his head.
"At least once a year, I'd agree to that, but not two years," he said.
The city of Palm Bay said it can change the city's ordinance in the future, but property owners are happy with the new code, because it can cost them up to $500 each time they have a crew clear the land.