Cumberland County, NC Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance lot
- 2+ verified violations in a year
- Code
- Fayetteville Sec. 22-16(E)
- Remedy
- Property maintenance plan required
- Measures
- Fencing, lighting, signage
- No pickup
- City won't clear vacant lots
Summary
In Fayetteville, an undeveloped lot is declared a nuisance lot after two or more verified violations within one year, triggering a property maintenance plan. County-wide, vacant lots must be kept free of illegal dumping, junk, and pest-harboring overgrowth.
An undeveloped lot is hereby declared a nuisance lot when there are two (2) or more verified violations within a one (1) year period.
Full Breakdown
Fayetteville Code Sec. 22-16 requires every property owner to keep land free of health and safety nuisances, and Sec. 22-16(E) declares an undeveloped lot a nuisance lot after two verified violations in a year. The city may then require corrective actions such as fencing, lighting, and signage. In unincorporated Cumberland County, vacant land is regulated under the Minimum Housing Code's exterior-property and overgrown-vegetation standards. The city does not collect yard or limb waste from vacant lots, which it treats as land clearing.
Violations & Fines
Fayetteville: $500 civil penalty plus removal cost for illegal dumping; repeat abatement failures within 24 months add a $1,000 penalty. County: up to $250 per day for uncorrected nuisance conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a vacant lot become a nuisance lot in Fayetteville?
Does the city clean up my vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cumberland County
Compare Cumberland County to another location·View the North Carolina property maintenance overview
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