In unincorporated Shelby County, the litter-control division of the Code (Chapter 44) prohibits maintaining a nuisance and defines urban blight from deteriorated property. Blighted and nuisance properties are prosecuted in the Shelby County Environmental Court, the court of original jurisdiction for all county ordinance violations.
Shelby County Code section 44-88 makes it unlawful to maintain a nuisance on property, and section 44-87 defines 'nuisance' as structures or buildings so deteriorated or abandoned that they are a blighting influence on neighboring properties. 'Urban blight' is separately defined from weeds, grass, and undergrowth that leave a property in disrepair. Violations are misdemeanors under section 44-92, with a fine up to $50 per offense, each day separate. Cases are heard in the Shelby County Environmental Court (201 Poplar Ave.), which since 2010 also enforces Tennessee's Neighborhood Preservation Act (T.C.A. 13-6-101) against substandard vacant buildings that are public nuisances, appointing a receiver to abate conditions when an owner will not. These county rules apply outside incorporated municipalities.
Maintaining a nuisance, letting a building deteriorate into a blighting influence, or allowing property to fall into disrepair. Fine up to $50 per offense under section 44-92; Environmental Court may order abatement or appoint a receiver for vacant nuisance buildings.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is allowed in Shelby County and has no dedicated permit, but compost and organic material must be managed so it does not become harmful v...
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Shelby County has no ordinance banning or specially permitting artificial turf. Synthetic turf is not counted as living landscaping under the Unified Develop...
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The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code favors native landscaping, directing that trees and shrubs be predominately hardy Tennessee native spe...
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Shelby County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially licensing residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are generally allowed, and Tenn...
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Shelby County has no mandatory outdoor watering schedule. Water is supplied by Memphis Light, Gas and Water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, and MLGW promotes ...
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The Code of Shelby County authorizes the county to compel owners of unincorporated property to cut rank weeds, grasses, and underbrush deemed a health or tra...
See how Shelby County's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
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