Escambia County, FL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Escambia County's litter control ordinance (County Code ch. 42, art. V) makes an unauthorized accumulation of litter on any property, "vacant or occupied," a code violation under § 42-157(e), regardless of whether the lot has a structure on it. Litter is defined broadly at § 42-153 to include yard trash, tree and shrub trimmings, tar paper, lumber, masonry, drywall, packaging and similar debris, so a weedy or debris-strewn vacant parcel in Bellview, Ferry Pass, Gonzalez, Molino or Perdido Key falls squarely within the rule. Section 42-157(d) separately obligates every owner, lessee or agent "in possession, charge of or in control" of a lot to keep any accumulated litter in adequate containers until it is properly disposed of.

Enforcement runs through the office of code enforcement under § 42-164. After a field investigation confirms a violation, the county sends a certified-mail demand to the owner of record and posts a placard on the property and at the courthouse for at least ten days. The owner then has ten days to comply (three days for a repeat violation) or to request a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. If the lot still is not cleared after reinspection, the county or its agents can abate the nuisance directly and record a lien for the actual cleanup cost plus administrative fees, bearing six percent annual interest under § 42-164(f)(2). This article applies only in the unincorporated county; Pensacola and Century enforce their own municipal codes.