Arlington County, VA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Growth creating a health or safety hazard
- Applies to
- Vacant property, improved or unimproved
- No fixed height limit
- Unlike the 12-inch rule for occupied lots
- First violation penalty
- $100 (§10-20)
- Subsequent violation penalty
- $150 each, capped at $3,000
- County self-help
- May correct and bill owner (§10-17)
Summary
Owners of vacant property in Arlington County must cut grass, weeds and other foreign growth whenever it creates a health or safety hazard, even though there's no set height trigger the way there is for occupied lots. The County can issue a violation notice, correct the problem itself, and bill the owner plus civil penalties starting at $100.
It shall be the duty of each owner of vacant property to cut grass or lawn areas, weeds, and other foreign growth on such property when such growth on such property creates a health or safety hazard. ... “Vacant property” means property, whether or not improved, which is not occupied by any person. ... “Weeds” mean an unmanaged plant of rank growth that tends to overgrow or choke out plants that have economic, aesthetic, ecological, or botanical value.
Full Breakdown
A of the Arlington County Code puts a duty on 'each owner of vacant property' to cut grass, lawn areas, weeds, and other foreign growth on that property when the growth creates a health or safety hazard. Chapter 10 defines 'Vacant property' in §10-12 as property, improved or not, that isn't occupied by any person, and defines a 'danger or hazard to public health or safety' broadly to include conditions reasonably certain to reduce the healthful or sanitary condition or safety of the general public or of people the County has an interest in protecting, including growth that can cause allergic reactions, harbor vermin, provide cover for unlawful activity, or spread litter or weeds onto neighboring property.
A ties the vacant-lot duty to that hazard finding rather than a specific height. If the County Manager determines a violation exists, §10-16 requires a notice of violation to be served on the owner, and if the owner doesn't comply, §10-17 lets the County Manager enter the property to correct the violation and bill the cost to the owner, collectible the same way as real estate taxes. The owner can appeal within five working days of service under §10-18.
Violations & Fines
A §10-13.A violation carries the same civil penalty structure as §10-13.C under §10-20: $100 for a first violation after a warning with a compliance deadline, $150 for each subsequent violation, no more than one citation per property in any 10-day period, and a $3,000 cap on penalties arising from the same set of facts. Citations are issued by the County Manager or a designee, and the owner has 30 days to pay or appeal to General District Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Arlington County require vacant lots to be mowed?
What counts as a health or safety hazard on a vacant lot?
What happens if a vacant lot owner ignores a violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.