Fall River, MA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Vacant lot owners citywide
- Duty
- Keep lot free of litter, weeds
- Civil penalty
- $300 per violation
- Fine split
- 1/3 treasury, 2/3 police dept
Summary
Fall River requires owners of vacant lots to keep the premises free of litter and control wild-plant growth so it doesn't block neighbors' views from their windows, backed by a $300 civil fine per violation.
The owner or person in control of any vacant lot shall, at all times, maintain the premises free of litter and control the growth of any wild plants or the existence of any obstruction so as not to interfere with the general view of the people from the windows of the buildings abutting thereto, excluding basement windows; provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in authorized private receptacles for collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under § 26-40(B) of the litter article, whoever owns or controls a vacant lot in Fall River must keep it free of litter and control any wild-plant growth that would block sightlines from windows of nearby buildings: a duty separate from the citywide litter ban in § 26-40(A), which covers occupied premises. The city enforces both duties with a flat $300 civil penalty per violation under § 26-43, split one-third to the municipal treasury and two-thirds to fund Fall River Police Department operations.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 26-40 carries a $300 civil penalty per offense under § 26-43: one-third to the city treasury, two-thirds earmarked for Fall River Police Department operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fall River require vacant lots to be kept weed-free?
What's the penalty for violating the vacant-lot maintenance rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle vacant lot maintenance.