Dothan, AL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Section 106-32 defines a vacant lot broadly: any land with no structure, or only an unoccupied business or residential structure, including its adjoining or included easements, ditches and alleyways. That definition alone does not exempt a lot from Dothan's weed-abatement article; the only carve-out is 'excluded properties,' meaning heavily wooded areas, land in its natural, undeveloped state, property under active construction, and farm properties. A tract counts as farm property only if it exceeds five acres, which can include an unsold, unoccupied subdivision, and even then, if it isn't under active cultivation, the owner must still keep a 100-foot strip along the boundary with any abutting residential or business property mowed and compliant.

A plain vacant lot in town, without wooded, natural-state, active-construction or qualifying farm status, falls under the general 'overgrown lot or parcel' nuisance standard. Enforcement follows § 106-33: an enforcing official designated by the city manager gives the property owner, as identified by county ad valorem tax records, written notice by hand delivery or first-class mail describing the alleged nuisance, posts a copy on the property, and allows ten days to abate, extendable at the official's discretion up to a maximum of 28 days. An owner can request a hearing before an administrative official within five days of the notice (§ 106-34(a)(1)), and that official must rule in writing within five days of the hearing.

If the nuisance isn't abated, the city may enter and clear the lot itself or through a contractor without competitive bidding under Code of Ala. 1975 § 11-67-25, then bill labor, equipment, advertising, postage and legal expenses back to the owner as a 'weed lien' added to the next county ad valorem tax bill (§ 106-35). An aggrieved owner may appeal the administrative official's ruling to circuit court within ten days by filing notice and a costs bond.