Clayton County, GA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Vacant buildings
- Must be boarded/secured (62-203)
- Undeveloped land
- No outdoor junk storage (62-202a)
- Grass rule
- 10 in. limit on developed land only
- Cure period
- 5 business days after notice
- Cost recovery
- County lien collected like taxes
Summary
Clayton County requires owners of abandoned or vacant buildings to board up and secure them against animals, vermin, and trespassers (Sec. 62-203). Vacant and undeveloped lots may not be used for outdoor storage of junk or waste (Sec. 62-202) in the unincorporated county.
The owner or person in possession of any abandoned or vacant buildings or structures shall secure and board up such buildings or structures to prevent entry by animals, vermin or trespassers. The structure shall be deemed secure if the windows, doors and other openings are boarded up.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Clayton County Sec. 62-203(a), the owner or person in possession of any abandoned or vacant building or structure must secure and board it up to prevent entry by animals, vermin, or trespassers; a structure is deemed secure when windows, doors, and other openings are boarded up or solid doors are securely locked. Sec. 62-202(a) applies to both developed and undeveloped land, barring outdoor storage of appliances, furniture, machinery, scrap, and waste without a special permit. The ten-inch grass/weed limit in Sec. 62-202(b) applies to developed land; truly undeveloped land in its natural state is exempt from mowing but not from the storage and dumping prohibitions.
Violations & Fines
Each violation is punishable under Sec. 1-12 by up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to secure a vacant house I own in Clayton County?
Does the grass-height rule apply to an empty wooded lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
Compare Clayton County to another location·View the Georgia property maintenance overview
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