Tarpon Springs requires owners of vacant lots to keep grass under 12 inches, remove debris, and prevent harboring of pests under Chapter 8 nuisance provisions and Chapter 9 property maintenance code.
Tarpon Springs prohibits excessive growth or accumulation of weeds, undergrowth, and similar plant materials, as well as accumulation of debris, on any property in the city — including vacant parcels. Grass must be maintained below 12 inches and may not extend more than 4 inches over a sidewalk, curb, or pavement edge. Section 8-40, 8-41, and 8-52 of the city code address overgrowth, nuisance vegetation, and abandoned property conditions. If an owner fails to comply after receiving a notice from Code Enforcement, the city may abate the nuisance — mowing the lot or removing debris — and bill the owner, with unpaid charges becoming a lien against the property under FS 162.
Notice of violation triggers a compliance window; failure to abate can result in city-performed cleanup, billing, and recorded property liens with daily fines up to $250.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Tarpon Springs's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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