Sampson County, NC Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No public health nuisance on any parcel of land
- Governing section
- Sampson County Code Sec. 2-6-05.B.1
- Farm exemption
- Bona fide farms, nonfarm use excluded
- County remedy
- Enter, abate, then lien on property
- First civil penalty
- $100, rising to $500
- Appeal path
- Zoning Administrator, then Board of Adjustment
Summary
Sampson County Code Section 2-6-05 makes it unlawful to create or allow a public health nuisance on any parcel of land in the unincorporated county, covering junk, stagnant water, and pest-breeding conditions common on vacant and unimproved lots. The Planning and Development Department can order an owner to remove the nuisance, and unresolved cases can end in county abatement and a lien on the property.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to create a public health nuisance on any parcel of land or allow a nuisance to remain on their property. Public health nuisances are defined as any action or condition that is dangerous or prejudicial to public health or safety, and include, but are not limited to, the following: A. Accumulated junk, tires, trash, refuse, or construction debris that is a breeding ground or nest for mosquitoes, insects, rats, or other pests. B. Anything causing offensive odors or health risks to others such as dead animals, stagnant water, decayed vegetables and fruit, or filthy privies and stables. ... Bona fide farms are exempt from regulation through this article, but any use of farm property for nonfarm purposes is subject to this article.
Full Breakdown
Section 2-6-05.B.1 defines a public health nuisance as any action or condition dangerous or prejudicial to public health or safety, and lists examples that apply directly to vacant and unimproved land in unincorporated Sampson County: accumulated junk, tires, trash, refuse, or construction debris that breeds mosquitoes, insects, or rats; offensive odors from dead animals, stagnant water, or decayed vegetation; uncovered structures or containers holding stagnant water; and open wells, pits, or unsecured vehicles or appliances that risk entrapment or injury. The ordinance is adopted under N.C.G.S.
130A-309.61 and 153A-121, 153A-123, and 153A-140, and it exempts bona fide farms unless the farm property is put to a nonfarm use. Because a vacant lot has no resident to police it directly, the county's remedy runs against the owner: under Section 2-6-05.B.2, once notice is given and the compliance period in that notice runs out without action or a successful appeal, the county itself may enter the property and remove, abate, or remedy the nuisance. The owner bears the cost of that county cleanup, and unpaid costs become a lien on the land collectable as unpaid taxes under Section 2-6-05.B.3.
Violations & Fines
Owners cited under Section 2-6-05 who ignore a notice face civil penalties of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for each later offense under Section 2-6-05.D.1.A, on top of the county's cost of cleanup and a lien on the property. A misdemeanor charge can add up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail, and each day the nuisance continues is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sampson County make me clean up a vacant lot I own but don't use?
What happens if I never respond to a nuisance notice on my vacant lot?
Is farmland exempt from the vacant lot nuisance rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sampson County
Compare Sampson County to another location·View the North Carolina property maintenance overview
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