Owners of vacant lots in Safety Harbor must keep them mowed and free of debris. Weeds or undergrowth over 12 inches near improved properties or streets can be declared a public nuisance.
Under Chapter 5 of the Safety Harbor Code and Chapter 15 (Offenses), property owners are responsible for keeping lots free of overgrowth, trash, abandoned items, and conditions harboring rodents or mosquitoes. The 12-inch maximum vegetation height applies within 75 feet of any improved property or 25 feet of any street. If an owner fails to comply after notice, the city may abate the nuisance and assess the cost as a lien against the property. Standing water on vacant land that breeds mosquitoes is also actionable, particularly given Pinellas County mosquito-borne illness control efforts.
Failure to maintain a vacant lot may result in city abatement charged back to the owner, plus daily fines up to $250 imposed by the Code Enforcement Board.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Safety Harbor's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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