Washington County, AR Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

08 lets the County Judge act on a complaint and investigation into unsightly or unsanitary conditions on real property. If such conditions exist, as defined under state nuisance and solid-waste law, the Judge issues a written Order to the owner requiring them to abate, remove or eliminate garbage, rubbish and junk, plus other unsightly and unsanitary articles, and to eliminate stagnant ponds of water or any other condition that could become a breeding ground for mosquitos and germs harmful to public health. The Order is posted, mailed or published to the owner.

If the owner does not comply within 30 days of notice, the County Judge is authorized to take corrective action directly, meaning the county can send crews to clean the property itself rather than waiting indefinitely for voluntary compliance. The cost of that county-performed cleanup is charged back to the property owner, and the county holds a lien against the property for any unpaid costs, with interest accruing at the maximum legal rate until paid. If the county has to sue to enforce the order, it recovers its costs including title search fees and reasonable attorney's fees from the owner.

The ordinance carves out a significant exemption for rural landowners: it does not apply to land valued as agricultural that is actually being farmed, or to any parcel larger than ten acres if the unsanitary condition cannot be seen from a public road or highway, so working farms and large back-lot conditions hidden from the road are not swept in. The County Judge must report every action taken under this section to the Quorum Court, giving elected officials ongoing oversight of enforcement. Passed as Ord. 2012-027 on 4-13-2012, drawing its statutory basis from state nuisance-abatement and solid-waste law.