Mesa County, CO Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Adopted May 9, 2023 and effective June 11, 2023, Ordinance No. 15 replaced Mesa County's 2005 nuisance resolution with a dedicated anti-blight law. Its stated purpose is "eliminating and controlling, to the extent possible, the accumulation of rubbish within the County, which, if not eliminated or controlled, can result in visual blight, 'attractive nuisances', incompatibility with existing land uses... attraction of disease-infested rodents and other vermin, fire and other hazards, and air, noise, and water pollution." Section 3.1 then makes the conduct itself unlawful: no owner, occupant, person in control, or manager may "cause, allow or permit the accumulation of rubbish" on any lot they control.

The ordinance reaches only the unincorporated area (Section 1.6.1) and carves out two exceptions: industrial tracts of ten or more acres, and agricultural land currently in agricultural use as defined by C.R.S. §39-1-102(1.6). "Rubbish" is defined broadly in Section 2.9 to include trash, junk, debris, junk vehicles, dead animal carcasses, appliances and unused building materials left more than 30 days after a permit expires.

Enforcement escalates in stages. A Code Compliance Officer first issues a written Notice to Cure giving 30 days to correct the violation, shorter if there's an immediate health or safety risk. If the violation persists, a Notice of Violation and Order follows, again with 30 days. From there, the County can seek an administrative inspection warrant, refer the matter to the County Attorney's Office for an injunction or abatement action, or apply for an administrative entry-and-seizure warrant to physically remove the rubbish. Removal costs, plus a 5% inspection fee, become a lien against the property; if unpaid after 30 days, the county treasurer collects it with a 10% penalty like other property taxes.