Henrico County, VA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code Sec. 10-100(a)-(c)
- Penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor, up to $250 fine
- Container rule
- Watertight, covered until pickup
- Exemption
- Land zoned for/in active farming
- First step
- Written notice from county inspector
- County cleanup
- Owner billed, unpaid balance becomes lien
- State authority
- Code of Virginia Sec. 15.2-901
Summary
Henrico County Code Sec. 10-100 makes it unlawful for a property owner to let trash, garbage, refuse, litter or clutter pile up anywhere in the county except on land zoned for or actively farmed, if it could endanger neighbors' health or safety. Garbage must sit in watertight, covered containers until pickup, and breaking the rule is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
(a) Prohibited storage or accumulation. It is unlawful for any owner of property to allow the storage or accumulation of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, and clutter, except on land zoned for or in active farming operation, and other substances that might endanger the health or safety of other residents of the county. For purposes of this section, the term "clutter" includes mechanical equipment, household furniture, containers, and similar items that may be detrimental to the well-being of a community when they are left in public view for an extended period or are allowed to accumulate. (b) Use of containers required. All garbage, trash, refuse, litter, and clutter, except on land zoned for or in active farming operation, and other debris must be placed in watertight containers and be kept covered until transported to the county landfill or until taken from the premises by trash or garbage collectors or otherwise disposed of as permitted by law. (c) Penalty. Violation of this section is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10-100(a) prohibits any property owner from allowing trash, garbage, refuse, litter and "clutter" to accumulate, exempting only land zoned for or in active farming operation. The code defines clutter broadly: mechanical equipment, household furniture, containers and similar items left in public view for an extended period or allowed to build up count as violations even without traditional garbage present. Sec. 10-100(b) requires that all garbage, trash, refuse, litter and clutter (again exempting farmland) be kept in watertight containers, covered until it is hauled to the county landfill or picked up by collectors.
Enforcement starts under Sec. 10-101: a county inspector issues a written notice, in person or by mail to the owner's last known address, describing the date and nature of the violation. Other Article IV offenses can be charged directly by summons or warrant. If the owner still refuses or fails to clean up after that notice, Sec. 10-102 lets the county's own crews remove the trash, garbage, refuse, litter and clutter at the owner's expense; the county collects those costs as it collects taxes, and any unpaid charge becomes a lien on the property with the same priority as an unpaid local real estate tax lien.
Sec. 10-103 confirms that paying the fine never excuses continuing the violation, and the county can still bring further proceedings to force compliance. The article traces its authority to Code of Virginia Sec. 2-901, which lets localities require owners to clear trash, weeds and similar nuisances from private property.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 10-100 is a Class 4 misdemeanor, Virginia's lowest-tier criminal offense, punishable only by a fine of up to $250 with no jail exposure. Before any fine, Sec. 10-101 requires a county inspector to send written notice describing the violation; other Article IV violations can bypass notice and go straight to summons or warrant. If the owner does not clean up after notice, the county may do the work itself under Sec. 10-102 and bill the owner, converting unpaid charges into a real-estate-tax-priority lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does furniture stored on my porch count as a violation?
Am I exempt if my property is farmland?
What happens if I ignore the county's notice?
Can I still be prosecuted after I finally clean up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
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