Property Blight: Apex vs Cary
How do property blight rules compare between Apex, NC and Cary, NC?
Apex and Cary have similar restriction levels.
Apex, NC
Wake County
Apex Town Code Chapter 14 (Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions) prohibits the accumulation of offensive animal or vegetable matter, rubbish, and trash that constitutes a public nuisance on any premises. Junked, abandoned, and aesthetic-nuisance vehicles on private property are addressed under Town Code Chapter 20, Article III, with state authority from NCGS 160A-303 (junked vehicles) and NCGS 160D-12 (minimum housing standards). Enforcement is by the Apex Code Enforcement Division of the Planning Department; Apex Police handle abandoned vehicles per Apex PD General Order 13.13.
View full Apex rules →Cary, NC
Wake County
Wake County does not run a county-wide minimum-housing code in residential neighborhoods within municipalities. NCGS §160D-1203 gives counties authority over abandoned, blighted, or unsafe structures in unincorporated areas. Each Wake municipality has its own minimum-housing program (Raleigh §10-6121, Cary Ch. 30, Apex Ch. 11, Wake Forest Ch. 8).
View full Cary rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Apex | Cary |
|---|---|---|
| Code Chapter | Town Code Ch. 14 (Offenses); Ch. 20 Art. III (Junked Vehicles); Ch. 5 Art. VII (Housing Code) | - |
| Nuisance Trigger | Noxious weeds, offensive matter, rubbish, fire hazards | - |
| Junked Vehicle Authority | NCGS 160A-303; Apex PD General Order 13.13 | - |
| Housing Code Authority | NCGS Ch. 160D Article 12 (Minimum Housing Standards) | - |
| Abatement | Town may remove; cost recoverable as lien under NCGS 160A-193 | - |
| Default Penalty | Up to $500/day civil; Class 3 misdemeanor (NCGS 14-4) if criminal | - |
| Enforcement Contact | Apex Planning / Code Enforcement (919-249-3418) | - |
| County authority | - | NCGS §160D-1203 |
| Unincorporated | - | Inspections Office |
| Raleigh | - | Code Enforcement §10-6121 |
| Cary code | - | Ch. 22-12, Ch. 30 |
| Process | - | Notice + hearing required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Apex FAQ
What happens if I leave a junk car in my Apex driveway?
It can be cited under Apex Town Code Chapter 20, Article III (Abandoned, Junked, and Disabled Vehicles) and the state junked-vehicle statute NCGS 160A-303. Officers cannot enter the property to inspect without owner / occupant consent (per Apex PD General Order 13.13 and NCGS 15-27.2), but a Notice of Violation can be issued from public view. The owner may appeal the removal determination under Town Code Sec. 20-36(b).
Who do I report a blighted or trashed property to in Apex?
Use the Town's online Report a Concern portal (apexnc.org/139) or call the Apex Planning Department / Code Enforcement at 919-249-3418. Apex Police handle vehicle complaints. Town Code Chapter 14 lets the Town cite accumulations of rubbish, offensive matter, and fire hazards; persistent violations can lead to Town abatement billed back to the owner as a lien under NCGS 160A-193.
Cary FAQ
Can the county tear down my house?
Only after a formal process under NCGS §160D-1203 — written notice, public hearing, opportunity to repair, then order of demolition. The owner has appeal rights.
Who handles overgrowth complaints?
In Raleigh, call Code Enforcement (919-996-2500). In unincorporated Wake, the county doesn't have a residential overgrowth program — only structural hazards.
What is 'blight'?
Generally a structure that is unsafe, dilapidated, or substantially deteriorated. Each city defines it slightly differently in its local code.
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