Mobile County, AL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Mobile County's public nuisance premises subpart, Act 94-216, applies only in the unincorporated territory. 51(a) makes it unlawful for an owner or anyone in control of a building, lot, junkyard or other premises to leave it littered with garbage, refuse, litter, junk, debris, salvaged materials, old furniture, used tires, inoperable vehicles, appliances, rags, paper or cardboard, including anything that collects water, shelters pests, smells, or otherwise diminishes nearby property values or threatens public health. Subsection (b) exempts farm buildings, farm equipment and materials stored on a farm, along with businesses currently burning or recycling their own wood, salvage or scrap materials on-site for no more than 60 days.

75 (Act 2002-323) give the county commission authority to order it fixed or torn down. The appropriate county official gives the owner and any mortgage holders certified-mail notice, posted at the building within three days, allowing up to 60 days to remedy or demolish. The owner may request a hearing before the commission, held five to 30 days after the request; a decision may be appealed to circuit court within 10 days by filing notice and a cost bond. If the commission orders demolition, it fixes the cost by resolution and assesses it as a special lien on the property, superior to every other lien except unpaid taxes, added directly to the ad valorem tax bill.