Vacant lots in Chesapeake must be maintained free of trash, debris, and overgrown vegetation. Grass and weeds on undeveloped lots must be kept below 12 inches. The city can mow and bill the owner under VA Code Section 15.2-900 if a notice to cure is ignored.
Chesapeake applies the same Virginia Maintenance Code and nuisance standards to vacant lots as to occupied properties. Owners of empty residential lots are responsible for regular mowing, especially during the growing season April through October. Complaints are triaged by Code Compliance, and owners receive a notice of violation with a typical 10-day cure period. If the owner does not respond, city contractors mow and remove debris, and the cost plus an administrative fee is billed to the owner; unpaid charges become a lien on the property. Storage of debris, unregistered vehicles, or construction materials on vacant lots is also prohibited. Lots adjacent to wetlands, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the Dismal Swamp must also comply with Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area rules where applicable.
Failure to cure within notice period: city abatement, 100-250 dollar penalty, plus mowing cost and administrative fee assessed as lien.
Chesapeake, VA
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See how Chesapeake's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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