Property Maintenance in Highlands County, FL (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Highlands County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Highlands County Code § 5.6-2(4) declares any building or structure so dilapidated it is unfit for human habitation, unsanitary enough to menace neighbors' health, or an unusual fire hazard to be a public nuisance. The county can order it fixed or abated, then place a lien with interest against the property if the work goes unpaid.
Dilapidated Building Nuisance Rule in Highlands County
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 5.6-2(4), 5.6-3
The maintaining, using, placing, depositing, leaving or permitting to be or remain on any public or private property of any of the following items, conditions or actions is hereby declared to be and constitute a nuisance, provided that this enumeration shall not be construed as a designation of all nuisances: ... (4)Any building or other structure which is in such a dilapidated condition that i...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Highlands County's nuisance chapter does not require you to mow a truly unimproved lot. Code § 5.6-2(6) exempts unimproved land covered by natural Florida grasses and weeds, pastureland, orange groves and other farmland from the chapter entirely, so long as the land otherwise complies with any other applicable law.
Vacant Lot Weed Exemption in Highlands County
Few RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 5.6-1, 5.6-2(6)
Improved lot or property: Land upon which a residential, commercial or industrial building is located. ... (6)This chapter shall not apply to unimproved lots, parcels or tracts of land covered by living grasses, weeds or other growth typical of Florida, pastureland, orange groves or other lands used for farming purposes or those lands protected by other legislation, provided these lands are in ...
All Highlands County ordinances
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