Carroll County, GA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- 2012 Intl. Property Maintenance Code, § 18-91
- Key section
- IPMC § 301.3 vacant land/structures
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Carroll County only
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, 60 days jail per violation
- Enforcing office
- Community Development Department
Summary
Carroll County requires every vacant lot and vacant structure in the unincorporated county to be kept clean, safe, secured and sanitary under its International Property Maintenance Code, so it does not become a blighting hazard, with violators facing code enforcement action and fines.
301.3 Vacant structures and land within Platted Subdivisions. All vacant structures and premises thereof or vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition as provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem or adversely affect the public health or safety.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-91 of the county code adopts the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended, as the governing property standard for Carroll County, Georgia, and Sec. 1-5 limits that code's reach to the unincorporated areas of the county: it does not apply inside Carrollton, Villa Rica, Temple, Bowdon, Whitesburg, Mount Zion or Roopville, each of which enforces its own municipal code. 3, titled "Vacant structures and land within Platted Subdivisions," requires every vacant structure and every parcel of vacant land in a platted subdivision to be kept clean, safe, secure and sanitary so it does not create a blighting problem or threaten public health or safety.
2, with the county authorized to close and secure it itself and place the cost as a lien on the property if the owner does not act. Enforcement begins with a written notice of violation served on the owner personally, by mail, or by posting on the property if mail is returned undelivered.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 106.4, anyone who violates a property maintenance provision, including Section 301.3's vacant-lot standard, faces prosecution with a maximum fine of $1,000.00 and up to 60 days of incarceration per violation, and each day a violation continues after a notice of violation has been served can be charged as a separate offense. Selling or transferring a cited property does not clear the violation; Section 107.6 requires the new owner to accept responsibility for outstanding compliance orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside Carrollton or Villa Rica?
What happens if I ignore a notice about my vacant lot?
Does the rule cover empty land as well as empty buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carroll County
Compare Carroll County to another location·View the Georgia property maintenance overview
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