Louisville Metro requires vacant lot owners to maintain grass under 10 inches, clear trash and debris, secure structures, and register vacant buildings. Metro Code of Ordinances (LMCO) Chapter 156 (Property Maintenance) and Chapter 157 (Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration) authorize abatement and liens on noncompliant properties.
Jefferson County/Louisville Metro governs vacant property under LMCO Chapter 156 (Property Maintenance Code, adopting the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments) and LMCO Chapter 157 (Vacant and Abandoned Property Registry, 'VAPR'). Grass, weeds, and rank vegetation may not exceed 10 inches per LMCO 156.055; owners also must remove accumulations of trash, tires, and debris and prevent harborage for rodents. Vacant/abandoned buildings and lots meeting foreclosure or deterioration criteria must be registered with Metro Develop Louisville (Property Maintenance/Vacant and Public Nuisance division), with an initial VAPR fee of $300 and escalating annual renewal fees up to $3,000 for long-term vacancies. In the Ohio River floodplain, vacant parcels must not collect materials that could become debris during flooding, per MSD and LMCO Chapter 158 floodplain rules. Authority flows from KRS Chapter 65 (local government), KRS 67C (consolidated local government powers), KRS 82.720 (municipal nuisance abatement), and KRS 381.770 (nonresident landlord registration). Inspectors issue a Notice of Violation under LMCO 156.025 giving 7 to 15 days to comply; if ignored, Metro contractors mow, board, or clean the site and the cost, plus administrative fees, becomes a lien collectible like property taxes under KRS 65.8840.
Civil penalties under LMCO 156.990 range from $100 to $500 per day per violation, assessed through the Code Enforcement Board (KRS 65.8801 to 65.8839). Metro-performed mowing or cleanup is billed at cost plus a 25% administrative fee (typically $250 to $750 per occurrence) and recorded as a lien. Failure to register under Chapter 157 adds fines of $250 per month and may trigger receivership under KRS 65.8855.
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) regulates barking dogs under LMCO Chapter 91. Dogs that bark, howl, or whine persistently in a manner unreasonably distur...
Jefferson County, KY
As part of Louisville Metro Government since 2003, Jefferson County follows LMCO Β§ 99.03. Exterior construction within 100 feet of residential property is pr...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County and Louisville merged in 2003 to form Louisville Metro Government, so all unincorporated Jefferson County areas fall under LMCO Chapter 99 (...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC requires residential driveways in front or street-side yards to be no wider than 20 feet and surfaced with a hard or ...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC restricts RV and trailer parking in residential districts. RVs/boats over 25 feet or trailers over 16 feet are classi...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC restricts large commercial vehicles in residential zones. Heavy Trucks (multi-axle vehicles, trailers over 16 feet) a...
See how Jefferson County'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.