Showing ordinances that apply to McDonald Chapel, AL
McDonald Chapel is an unincorporated community (population 739) in Jefferson County, Alabama. Because McDonald Chapel is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Jefferson County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The vacant lot maintenance rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Birmingham requires vacant lot mowing when grass exceeds 10 inches (§14-1-20). Jefferson County code enforcement handles unincorporated areas. Weed abatement costs become liens on property per Alabama Code §11-53B.
Birmingham Code §14-1-20 requires property owners to keep grass and weeds under 10 inches. Vacant lot owners receive written notice with 10-day compliance deadlines. If ignored, the city mows the lot and bills the owner (typically $200-$500 per mow). Unpaid charges become a lien against the property per Alabama Code §11-53B-8. Jefferson County enforces similar rules in unincorporated areas through code enforcement. Vacant structures must be secured against trespass (boarded windows/doors, locked entries). Illegal dumping on vacant lots is common in some Birmingham areas and triggers additional enforcement. Mosquito and vermin breeding from standing water on vacant lots may trigger Jefferson County Department of Health action. Vacant property registration is required in Birmingham with annual fees.
Notice with 10-day compliance. Municipal mowing at owner expense ($200-$500 per occurrence). Liens for unpaid costs. Illegal dumping: fines up to $1,000 plus cleanup costs. Unregistered vacant property in BHM: fines escalating monthly.
See how McDonald Chapel's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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