Can You Mow Your Neighbor’s Lawn Without Permission in Michigan?

Do you have one of "those" Michigan neighbors who never cut their grass and everything is overgrown and unsightly?

Can you legally take it upon yourself to mow their grass for them without permission?

See Also: Can You Legally Get In Trouble For Cutting Grass Too Early in MI?

The other day, someone posted on the Nexdoor neighborhood app and was complaining about someone coming over and cutting his grass without permission. This particular person was upset (rightfully so) because they mowed an area where he was trying to grow wildflowers.

Nextdoor App User:

Dear neighbor, who thought it was okay to mow the yard I am trying to grow wildflowers in. Congrats, you are on my camera. With private property laws, you must ask permission before entering someone's property. Much less using a mower on it. Not doing that is called criminal trespass. I think I know who you are; please know I am filing a police report. You may not like my lawn or anything about my house, and that is your opinion. No matter what you see and what you don't like, you have zero right to enter my property without permission. That is a crime that you committed on my property.

 

Can You Legally Mow Your Neighbor's Lawn Without Permission in Michigan?

As much as you may want to cut your neighbor's unsightly yard, without their permission, you can't. You may have the best intentions in the world but if they didn't give you permission, it's considered trespassing.

Trespassing on someone else's property without permission can lead to legal issues or disputes.

Keep in mind that property laws and regulations may vary in different municipalities, so it's always a good idea to check with your local authorities if you have any concerns about property-related activities.

I used to have a neighbor that never cut their grass and it looked awful. Thankfully, I live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association. This allowed me to stay out of it and not be the bad guy as they were the ones that would handle the situation.