Showing ordinances that apply to Norton Center, MA
Norton Center is an unincorporated community (population 2,677) in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Because Norton Center is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Bristol County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The vacant lot maintenance rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton require vacant lot owners to mow (grass under 8-12 inches), remove trash, and secure the site. Vacant property registration required. Municipal mowing and cleanup billed to owner with lien for non-payment.
Bristol County vacant-lot maintenance is enforced under local blight and nuisance ordinances plus 105 CMR 410. Grass and weed height limits are typically 8 to 12 inches in Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton — taller growth triggers a mow-or-be-mowed notice. Trash, demolition debris, tires, and illegal dumping must be removed by the owner. Open foundations and structures must be secured against trespass. Vacant property registration (addressed under the broader blight program) requires annual fees and updated owner/agent contact. Non-compliant lots are abated by municipal contractors, with all costs ($200 to $500+ per mowing or cleanup) billed to the owner and attached as a lien on the property under MGL ch. 139 and local charter authority. Lots adjacent to schools, parks, or densely occupied streets see priority enforcement.
Written notice with 7 to 14 day compliance typical. Municipal abatement: $200 to $500+ per occurrence billed to owner. Unpaid costs: lien on property. Repeat violations: higher fines and increased registration fees.
See how Norton Center's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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