Jefferson County, KY Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

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.