Tuscaloosa, AL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Tuscaloosa's nuisance ordinances explicitly reach vacant lots, not just occupied homes. Section 13-67 makes it unlawful for anyone owning or controlling any premises or vacant lot to allow weeds, grass or kudzu to exceed 12 inches in height, to plant or allow bamboo within 50 feet of a residential property line, right-of-way or utility easement, or to let vines, underbrush, downed trees or limbs become overgrown so as to harbor mosquitoes, rodents or reptiles or otherwise create a public nuisance; no notice is required to constitute the violation. Section 13-67.1 forbids allowing litter, trash, storm debris or construction debris to accumulate on any premises or vacant lot. Section 13-62 separately prohibits dumping or littering on a vacant lot. The solid waste code reinforces this: Section 16-97(b)(6) provides the city will not collect trash from vacant lots that are not contiguous to and part of a residential premises, so owners must privately haul or properly dispose of debris. Abatement follows Section 13-68 — after 48 hours from notice the city may clear the lot and assess the cost as a lien under Section 13-69.