Longwood man cleans up yard after two-year battle

Longwood resident uses yard as a natural garden.

After more than two years of battling Longwood City Hall, Florida's court system and his neighbors along with racking up nearly $200,000 in code-enforcement fines Sean Law has cleaned up his yard.

"It is an improvement it looks dramatically better," City Commissioner Joe Durso said. "But we've still got some more work to do."

Law's attorney Dwayne Gray Jr. said the property at 402 E. Maine Ave. only needs to be re-sodded.

"He wants to be a good neighbor and resolve his issues with the city," Gray said.

Law's neighbor Kathy Ettman said she is delighted.

"I'm glad to see it this way," Ettman said, standing on her driveway and looking at Law's front lawn across the street.

"Oh, I hope it stays this way."

Law drew national attention after the city of Longwood began issuing him fines in 2012 for having high grass, weeds, dead wood and other debris in his yard at the corner of East Maine and South Oak Street.

Law called his home's junglelike landscape an "ecosystem" that is in compliance with the 2009 Florida-friendly landscaping state law, which encourages homeowners to grow yards that need little water and no chemicals. He added that he was growing fruits and vegetables.

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Longwood man cleans up yard after two-year battle