DeKalb County requires vacant lot owners to maintain grass under 12 inches, remove trash, and prevent nuisance conditions under Code Chapter 18. County may mow and bill owner; unpaid costs liened against property.
DeKalb County Code Chapter 18 requires owners of vacant lots to maintain their property to prevent blight, harboring of vermin, and fire hazards. Specific requirements: grass and weeds must not exceed 12 inches in height, trash and debris must be removed, illegal dumping must be reported and abated by the owner, and structures (if any) must be secured against trespass. Vacant parcels in unincorporated DeKalb are on Code Enforcement's mowing contractor list — owners receive a Notice to Abate with typically 10-14 days to mow. Failure to comply triggers county contractor mowing at owner expense, typically $200-$500 per mow cycle for a standard residential lot, plus an administrative fee. Costs are billed; unpaid amounts are liened against the property. Repeat/chronic violators may receive citations.
Notice to abate with 10-14 day compliance. County mowing/cleanup at owner expense: $200-$500+ per occurrence plus admin fee. Recorder's Court: up to $1,000 per occurrence. Liens filed for unpaid costs.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Decatur, GA
Barking dogs are covered under Decatur's general noise ordinance (Ch. 42), which lists animal noises among prohibited disturbing sounds. Animal control compl...
Decatur, GA
Construction noise in Decatur is regulated by the general noise ordinance (Ch. 42). Construction equipment is listed among covered noise sources; work should...
Decatur, GA
Decatur updated its noise ordinance effective July 1, 2025 (adopted March 3, 2025). Decibel limits: 65 dB(A) from 7:00 AM to 9:59 PM, and 60 dB(A) from 10:00...
Decatur, GA
Commercial vehicles (including large trucks and vans with commercial markings) parked in residential areas of Decatur are subject to zoning and parking regul...
Decatur, GA
Parking of recreational vehicles (RVs, boats, trailers) on residential streets or in front yards in Decatur is subject to regulations under the UDO (Article ...
Decatur, GA
Driveways in Decatur must comply with UDO site development standards (Article 7). Curb cuts require permits. Vehicles parked in driveways must not block the ...
See how Decatur's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.