Guilford County, NC Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Junked-vehicle authority
- NC Gen. Stat. 153A-132
- Junked-vehicle definition
- UDO Sec. 15-56 (12.04)
- Removal from private land
- Needs hazard declaration
- Dumping on lots
- Nuisance under Ch. 15.5
- Overgrowth on vacant lots
- City rule, not county
Summary
Guilford County treats dumping on vacant land as a solid-waste public nuisance and can remove junked or abandoned vehicles from private property once declared a health or safety hazard. There is no county overgrown-grass rule for vacant lots; that is a city power.
A 'junked motor vehicle' is an abandoned motor vehicle that also: a. Is partially dismantled or wrecked; or b. Cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it originally was intended to move; or c. Is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than one hundred dollars ($100.00); or d. Does not display a current license plate.
Full Breakdown
Under NC Gen. Stat. 153A-132, a county may remove abandoned and junked vehicles. Guilford County's UDO (Sec. 15-56, 12.04) defines a junked motor vehicle as an abandoned vehicle that is partially dismantled or wrecked, cannot be self-propelled, is over five years old and worth under $100, or displays no current plate. A vehicle cannot be removed from private property without the owner's written request unless county officials declare it a health or safety hazard. Illegal dumping on vacant lots is a nuisance under Ch. 15.5. Mowing/weed abatement on vacant lots is a municipal matter, not a county rule.
Violations & Fines
Junked-vehicle and dumping violations trigger abatement plus civil penalties ($150-$500 residential, up to $3,000 commercial); the county may remove the vehicle at the owner's cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the county remove a junk car from a vacant private lot?
Does the county mow overgrown vacant lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guilford County
Compare Guilford County to another location·View the North Carolina property maintenance overview
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