Property Maintenance in Charles County, MD (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Charles County, Maryland.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Charles County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Property Blight

Charles County treats a rundown building exterior as a public nuisance under Code § 85-2: broken windows, flaking paint, damaged shutters or rainspouts, and any noncompliant condition under the International Property Maintenance Code all qualify. The Nuisance Abatement Board can order repairs within 14 days, and the county can fix the property itself and bill, then lien, the owner.

Charles County Blighted Property Nuisance Abatement

Significant Restrictions

Charles County Code §§ 85-2, 85-5, 85-6

The following conditions on residential property are declared to be unhealthy and unsightly conditions constituting public nuisances that endanger the life, health, safety, and welfare of the entire County by affording a breeding place for or attracting insects, rodents, or reptiles, by failing to exercise reasonable care and maintenance of structural improvements located on improved residentia...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Charles County's adopted Building Code sets a 12-inch cap on weeds and plant growth under § 224-1.8, amending International Property Maintenance Code § 302.4. Unlike the county's separate residential nuisance law, this Building Code standard reaches "premises" generally, giving code officials a tool against overgrown vacant and unimproved lots that Chapter 85's residential-property definition does not clearly cover.

Charles County Vacant Lot Weed Standard

Some Restrictions

Charles County Code §§ 224-1, 224-1.8

the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), published by the 2021 International Code Council, Inc. (ICC), copies of which are attached hereto and made part hereof by incorporation, are hereby adopted as written, collectively, as The Building Code of Charles County, and will take effect for all permit applications upon the effective date of this bill, with the following insertions, ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Charles County ordinances

See every category we cover for Charles County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Charles County Ordinance Hub →