Birmingham requires vacant lot mowing when grass exceeds 10 inches (§14-1-20). Jefferson County code enforcement handles unincorporated areas. Weed abatement costs become liens on property per Alabama Code §11-53B.
Birmingham Code §14-1-20 requires property owners to keep grass and weeds under 10 inches. Vacant lot owners receive written notice with 10-day compliance deadlines. If ignored, the city mows the lot and bills the owner (typically $200-$500 per mow). Unpaid charges become a lien against the property per Alabama Code §11-53B-8. Jefferson County enforces similar rules in unincorporated areas through code enforcement. Vacant structures must be secured against trespass (boarded windows/doors, locked entries). Illegal dumping on vacant lots is common in some Birmingham areas and triggers additional enforcement. Mosquito and vermin breeding from standing water on vacant lots may trigger Jefferson County Department of Health action. Vacant property registration is required in Birmingham with annual fees.
Notice with 10-day compliance. Municipal mowing at owner expense ($200-$500 per occurrence). Liens for unpaid costs. Illegal dumping: fines up to $1,000 plus cleanup costs. Unregistered vacant property in BHM: fines escalating monthly.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23 bars sounding a vehicle horn or signal device for more than 30 seconds except as a danger warning, requires effective mu...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham's noise ordinance expressly exempts noise from the operation of the Birmingham International Airport (City Code sec. 11-8-25(3)). In-flight aircra...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23(8) makes amplified sound, stereos, TVs and musical instruments a nuisance when plainly audible 50 feet from a building o...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham does not impose a blanket residential overnight on-street parking ban, but Title 10, Chapter 9 of the City Code prohibits leaving a vehicle parked...
Birmingham, AL
A retaining wall is defined in Birmingham's ordinance as a block, brick, or stone structure erected to retain or prevent encroaching soil. A front-yard retai...
Birmingham, AL
General Birmingham fence requirements prohibit any fence, wall, or planting that obstructs traffic visibility and creates a 'line of sight' problem as determ...
See how Birmingham's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.