Plymouth County, MA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- MGL c.139 §1
- Covers
- Vacant parcel of land
- Trigger
- Notice, then hearing
- Cost Recovery
- Lien on parcel
Summary
Vacant parcels are reached directly by MGL c.139 §1, which names the owner of a vacant parcel of land alongside dangerous buildings. After written notice and a hearing, a community can adjudge the lot a nuisance and order it abated.
after written notice to the owner of a burnt, dilapidated or dangerous building or other structure, or his authorized agent, or to the owner of a vacant parcel of land, and after a hearing, make and record an order adjudging it to be a nuisance
Full Breakdown
State law, not county rule, lets communities act on neglected vacant land. MGL c.139 §1 expressly authorizes an order after written notice to the owner of a vacant parcel of land, and after a hearing, adjudging it a nuisance, giving Brockton, Plymouth, and the towns a tool against dumping, overgrowth, and hazards on empty lots. Boards of health supplement this under MGL c.111 §31 to address accumulated rubbish, standing water, and rodent harborage on vacant parcels. Overgrown grass and weeds are usually handled through local property-maintenance bylaws rather than a statewide height limit, but a lot that becomes a health or safety hazard falls squarely within the c.139 nuisance process.
Violations & Fines
A vacant lot declared a nuisance and left unabated after notice can be cleared or secured by the community, with the cost liened against the parcel, plus board of health fines up to $500 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a town clean up a neglected empty lot?
Is there a weed-height limit on vacant lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts property maintenance overview
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