Picture this: You’re riding your motorcycle down a Kentucky highway on a beautiful summer afternoon when suddenly you hit a patch of freshly cut grass clippings on the asphalt. Your bike begins to slide, and you find yourself in a dangerous situation. This scenario has become increasingly common across the Bluegrass State, prompting lawmakers to take action against what many consider a dangerous practice.
The question of whether it’s illegal to mow grass into the road in Kentucky has become more pressing as motorcycle ridership continues to grow and accident reports related to grass clippings on roadways have increased. Understanding Kentucky’s approach to this issue is crucial for homeowners, professional landscapers, and road users alike.
The Current Legal Landscape in Kentucky
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As of 2025, Kentucky does not have a specific law that explicitly criminalizes mowing grass into roadways. However, this doesn’t mean the practice is without legal consequences. The state’s existing criminal littering statutes under KRS 512.070 can potentially be applied to cases involving grass clippings on roadways, particularly when those clippings create unsafe conditions for motorists.
The legal gray area has persisted despite legislative efforts to clarify the matter. In 2019 and 2020, Kentucky lawmakers made serious attempts to address this issue through proposed legislation. Representative Regina Huff introduced House Bill 15, which aimed to amend Kentucky’s criminal littering law to include “unsafe amounts of mowed grass” left on highways as a criminal offense. The bill would have made such actions a Class A misdemeanor, carrying potential fines of up to $2,500.
Unfortunately for road safety advocates, HB 15 faced political hurdles and ultimately had its posting withdrawn in March 2020, leaving the legal status of grass clippings on roadways in a somewhat ambiguous state.
Why Grass Clippings on Roads Are Dangerous
The safety concerns surrounding grass clippings on roadways are far from theoretical. Fresh grass clippings create a slippery surface that significantly reduces tire traction, particularly for motorcycles and bicycles. This hazard is comparable to driving on ice or through standing water, where vehicles can easily lose control.
Motorcyclists face the greatest risk from grass clippings on roadways. Unlike cars with four wheels and greater stability, motorcycles depend heavily on tire-to-road contact for safe operation. When a motorcycle encounters grass clippings, especially in turns or during braking, the reduced traction can cause the rider to lose control, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Richmond Police Assistant Chief Rodney Richardson has witnessed these dangers firsthand. In June 2019, his department responded to a motorcycle accident where a rider was hospitalized after losing control due to grass clippings on Lexington Road. “I don’t think they intend to cause an accident,” Richardson noted about homeowners who blow grass into roadways, “but they need to be aware of the dangers it can cause.”
The problem extends beyond motorcycles. Cars can also experience reduced traction when driving over grass clippings, particularly when the clippings are wet from morning dew or recent rainfall. This creates hydroplaning-like conditions that can catch drivers off guard.
Legal Liability and Civil Consequences
While Kentucky may not have a specific criminal statute addressing grass clippings on roadways, property owners who create hazardous conditions can still face significant legal liability. Civil lawsuits can be filed against homeowners or landscaping companies whose grass clippings contribute to traffic accidents.
The principle of negligence applies in these situations. If a property owner knows or should reasonably know that blowing grass clippings into the road creates a hazard, and someone is injured as a result, the property owner could be held financially responsible for damages. This includes medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Insurance companies have increasingly recognized this risk, and some homeowner’s insurance policies now specifically address liability related to yard maintenance activities that affect public roadways. Property owners should review their insurance coverage to understand their potential exposure.
What Constitutes Unsafe Amounts
One of the challenges in enforcing existing laws or creating new ones is defining what constitutes “unsafe amounts” of grass clippings. The proposed Kentucky legislation used this terminology but didn’t provide specific measurements or guidelines.
Law enforcement and safety experts generally consider any amount of grass clippings that creates a visible layer on the roadway surface to be potentially hazardous. Factors that increase the danger include:
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The density of the clippings
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Weather conditions (wet grass is more slippery)
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The location (curves and hills are more dangerous)
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The speed limit of the road
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The volume of traffic
Even small amounts of grass can be dangerous under the right conditions, particularly for motorcycles navigating curves or hills where traction is already at a premium.
State Roadside Maintenance Practices
Kentucky’s Department of Transportation maintains strict protocols for roadside mowing operations. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet performs state-funded interstate mowing three times per year in multiple counties, including Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties.
Importantly, KYTC crews are trained to direct grass clippings away from roadway surfaces during mowing operations. Professional maintenance crews use equipment designed to discharge clippings into ditches or back onto unmowed areas rather than onto the pavement. This professional approach demonstrates the standard of care that private property owners should follow.
The state also coordinates litter pickup with mowing operations, ensuring that debris is removed before cutting operations begin. This comprehensive approach to roadway maintenance underscores the importance of keeping road surfaces clear of all potential hazards.
Best Practices for Property Owners
Given the legal uncertainty and safety concerns, Kentucky property owners should adopt safe practices when mowing near roadways. The most effective approach is to direct grass clippings away from road surfaces entirely.
Modern lawn mowers offer several discharge options, including side discharge, rear bagging, and mulching capabilities. When mowing areas adjacent to roads, property owners should use side discharge settings to blow clippings back onto their property or use bagging attachments to collect clippings for disposal.
For properties with extensive road frontage, property owners might consider creating a buffer zone of unmowed grass near the roadway. This allows clippings from the main lawn area to be discharged into the buffer zone rather than onto the pavement.
Professional landscaping companies operating in Kentucky have increasingly adopted policies requiring their crews to clean up any grass clippings that end up on roadways. Many companies now include road cleanup as part of their standard service procedures, using leaf blowers or brooms to clear clippings from pavement immediately after mowing.
Conclusion
While it may not be explicitly illegal to mow grass into the road in Kentucky under current statutes, the practice carries significant safety risks and potential legal liability. The failed attempt to criminalize unsafe amounts of grass clippings through House Bill 15 highlights the seriousness with which lawmakers view this issue.
Property owners who allow grass clippings to remain on roadways risk civil liability if accidents occur, even without specific criminal legislation. The smart approach is to adopt safe mowing practices that direct clippings away from road surfaces entirely.
As Kentucky continues to grapple with road safety challenges, the grass clipping issue represents a relatively simple problem with straightforward solutions. Whether through new legislation or continued emphasis on voluntary compliance with safety practices, keeping grass clippings off roadways benefits everyone who uses Kentucky’s roads.
The bottom line for Kentucky property owners is clear: regardless of the specific legal requirements, mowing grass into roadways creates unnecessary hazards. Taking a few extra minutes to properly direct or clean up grass clippings is a small price to pay for the safety of motorcyclists, cyclists, and all road users throughout the commonwealth.