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Davis County, UT Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum notice before abatement
10 days from written notice
Sanitation-order deadline
48 hours to abate once ordered
County recourse
county abates, then liens the property
Penalty
misdemeanor for allowing or failing to abate
Who inspects
Davis County Commission representatives
Covered conditions
junk, abandoned vehicles, noxious weeds, trash

Summary

Unincorporated Davis County bars property owners and occupants from letting unsightly or deleterious objects, structures, abandoned vehicles, noxious weeds, trash or garbage accumulate on their land. The County Commission inspects, gives written notice with at least ten days to clean up, and if the owner doesn't act, the county removes the material itself and bills the owner, backed by a property lien.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Davis County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No property owner or occupant shall permit or cause to exist upon his or her property any unsightly or deleterious objects, structures or disused or abandoned motor vehicles or injurious or noxious weeds, trash, refuse or garbage. The County Commission, by and through its representatives, is authorized and empowered to make inspection of properties within the County to determine whether there is any violation of this chapter and shall serve notice in writing upon the owner or occupant of the property... requiring their removal, destruction or eradication within such reasonable period of time as it may determine, but not less than ten (10) days from the date of notice. The costs incurred shall be a lien upon the property of the owner or occupant and any personal property removed or taken into custody by the County pursuant to this chapter may be sold or otherwise disposed of in satisfaction of such lien, the proceeds being applied first to the cost of sale, second to the cost of removal, destruction or eradication and other County expenses, and the balance, if any, to the owner or occupant.

Full Breakdown

010 makes it unlawful for a property owner or occupant to permit or cause any unsightly or deleterious objects, structures, disused or abandoned motor vehicles, or injurious or noxious weeds, trash, refuse or garbage to exist on the property. 020 requires written notice to the owner or occupant demanding removal, destruction or eradication within a reasonable period the county sets, but never less than ten days from the notice date. 030 lets the county step in and abate the condition itself by removal, destruction or eradication.

040; unpaid costs become a lien on the property, and any personal property the county removed can be sold to satisfy that lien, with proceeds applied first to the sale costs, then removal costs, then any balance returned to the owner. Uncollected balances can be added directly to the property's tax bill and collected by the County Treasurer the same as ordinary property taxes. 060 separately requires anyone ordered to abate a nuisance, source of filth, or other sanitation violation on property under their control to do so within forty-eight hours of the order, or whatever other reasonable deadline the county sets.

Violations & Fines

Anyone who lets an unsightly condition, abandoned vehicle, noxious weeds or garbage exist on their property, or who fails to remove it after county notice, is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 8.08.050. Failing to abate within forty-eight hours of a sanitation order is a separate violation under Section 8.08.060, and the county can still recover its own abatement costs as a lien on the property regardless of the criminal charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice does Davis County give before cleaning up my property?
At least ten days. Section 8.08.020 requires the county to serve written notice describing the unsightly objects, abandoned vehicles, weeds, trash or garbage and give you a reasonable period to remove it, but the code sets that period at no less than ten days from the date of the notice.
What happens if I don't clean up after the notice period?
The county abates the nuisance itself under Section 8.08.030 by removing, destroying or eradicating the material, then bills you in writing for its costs under Section 8.08.040. Unpaid costs become a lien on your property and can be added to your tax bill and collected as ordinary property taxes.
Is letting junk pile up on my property a crime in Davis County?
Yes. Section 8.08.050 makes it a misdemeanor to permit unsightly objects, abandoned vehicles, noxious weeds, trash or garbage to exist on property you control, or to fail to remove them after the county has given you notice to abate.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Davis County

All Davis County rules

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