Charleston, SC Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Section 14-5 places an affirmative duty on the owner, agent, occupant or lessee of any exterior private or public property, including vacant lots, to keep it free of litter and unsightly growth. 'Unsightly growth' is defined at Section 14-1 as unsightly, unhealthy, unsanitary growth of grass, bushes, shrubs, trees, weeds, vines and similar vegetation. The duty reaches beyond loose litter to material already trapped against fences, wall bases, grassy areas, borders and embankments, and owners whose property fronts a city right-of-way are separately responsible for keeping the area up to and including the curb, gutter or street line clear.

Section 14-5(d) singles out vacant lots specifically: a non-resident owner of a vacant lot or other vacant property must appoint a resident agent to take responsibility for keeping the lot free of litter and unsightly growth, so the city always has a local contact it can hold accountable. Sweeping litter from a lot into the street or storm drainage system is separately unlawful under subsection (c). If an owner, agent, occupant or lessee lets litter or unsightly growth accumulate, the city sanitation division can serve written notice under subsection (e) giving five days to correct the violation; failing to comply within that window is grounds for prosecution and can also trigger the notice-and-lien process in Section 14-16, letting the city clean the lot itself and bill the owner.