Birmingham has declared an emergency war on weeds.

The City Council on Tuesday passed an ordinance authorizing the mayor to suspend notice requirements for cutting back weeds on private properties that have been neglected by owners.

Citing “hazardous vegetative overgrowth throughout the City of Birmingham caused by excessive rainfall,” the emergency declaration gives the the city 45 days to mowing and weed-cutting on private lots.

The new city budget allots $3 million for weed abatement, an increase from previous years. The city’s crews will be augmented by 18 private lawn service contractors that will help.

The city has nearly 15,000 tax delinquent lots which are neglected by their owners and overgrown with vegetation, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“We still couldn’t cut every one of them this year,” Woodfin said, but the emergency declaration will cut out some of the red tape.

“We believe we’ll be able to make a significant dent,” he said.