Greenville County, SC Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger distance
- Within 200 ft of platted subdivision or zoned residential area
- Height limit
- 18 inches within 10 ft of residential line
- Districts with height rule
- R-7.5, R-10, R-12, R-15, R-20
- Notice compliance window
- 10 days (or 20 days if mailed)
- Non-compliance result
- County corrects lot, cost becomes a lien
- Exception
- Natural or agricultural uses exempt
Summary
Greenville County bans weeds and rank vegetation on vacant lots within 200 feet of a platted subdivision or zoned residential area. In the R-7.5 through R-20 districts, unimproved lots also can't grow vines, briars or weeds over 18 inches within 10 feet of a residential property line.
(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any occupied or unoccupied lot or parcel of land in or within 200 feet of a developed platted subdivision or developed zoned residential area in Greenville County to permit on said lot or parcel of land any growth of weeds or rank vegetation except for natural or agricultural uses. This distance shall be measured from the site of the offending vegetation or infestation to the dwelling structure of another.
(b) In the R-7.5, R-10, R-12, R-15, and R-20 districts, it shall be unlawful for the owner of a privately-owned, unimproved lot in a natural or overgrowth state to permit vines, briars, weeds, or any plant (excluding a tree) that is not cultivated to grow over a height of 18 inches within 10 feet of a residential property line.
Full Breakdown
County Code Division 3 of Chapter 9 (§§ 9-131 through 9-135) governs weeds and rank vegetation on occupied and unoccupied lots. Section 9-132(a) makes it unlawful for an owner of any lot within 200 feet of a developed platted subdivision or developed zoned residential area to permit growth of weeds or rank vegetation, except for natural or agricultural uses; that 200-foot distance is measured from the offending vegetation to the neighboring dwelling. 5, R-10, R-12, R-15 and R-20 districts: on a privately-owned, unimproved lot in a natural or overgrowth state, vines, briars, weeds or any uncultivated plant other than a tree cannot exceed 18 inches within 10 feet of a residential property line.
Section 9-131 states the purpose is to keep lots free of weeds and rank vegetation and to prevent them from becoming fire hazards or breeding grounds for mosquitoes, insects and rodents. When the county finds a violation, § 9-133 requires it to serve notice on the owner and occupant, either by personal delivery or by certified mail to the address used for tax purposes. Under § 9-134, failure to comply within 10 days of receiving notice, or 20 days after certified mail is deposited, puts the owner in violation and subject to penalty.
Section 9-135 lets the county enter the lot and correct the violation itself if it still isn't fixed, with inspection, administration, labor and equipment costs becoming a lien on the property collected the same way as county taxes.
Violations & Fines
No violation-specific fine is listed in Division 3, so the general penalty in § 1-6 applies: a fine or imprisonment not to exceed the penalty jurisdiction of magistrate's court, with each day the weeds remain uncorrected counting as a separate offense. If the owner misses the 10-day (or 20-day mailed) notice deadline, the county can send crews onto the lot, clear it, and place a lien on the property for the full cost of inspection, labor and equipment under § 9-135.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a vacant lot a violation in Greenville County?
Is there a specific height limit for weeds?
How much time do I get after a notice of violation?
What happens if I don't clear the lot in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
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