HB693 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tommy Sherer
Democrat
Co-Sponsor: Ken Guin
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Walker Co., manufactured dwellings which are abandoned or unsafe, county commission authorized to declare a public nuisance under certain conditions, notice and hearing requirements, abatement procedures, civil actions authorized
Summary: HB693 would let Walker County declare abandoned or unsafe dwellings outside city limits a public nuisance, with required notices, hearings, and abatement steps, plus liens and civil actions to remove them.
What This Bill Does
The county can identify certain outside-city dwellings as public nuisances if they are abandoned or unsafe and pose health or safety risks. Property owners receive notice and at least 60 days to fix the nuisance; if not abated, the county may declare it a nuisance by resolution, post notice, and hold a hearing with prior notice. If the nuisance is confirmed, abatement must occur within at least 60 days after the final action, and the costs can be placed as a lien on the property and added to the property tax bill; the county can also pursue civil action to enforce abatement and recover costs.

Who It Affects
Real property owners where the dwelling is located: they must abate within the 60-day period or as agreed, may face a public hearing, and could incur liens and added tax assessments if the nuisance is abated by the county.
Walker County government and its officials (county commission and appointed employees): empowered to identify nuisances, issue notices, conduct hearings, declare nuisances, oversee abatement, and enforce cost recovery through liens and civil actions.

Key Provisions
Section 1: Applies only in Walker County and becomes operative after the county commission passes a resolution to apply the act.
Section 2: Defines a public nuisance as an abandoned or unsafe manufactured dwelling or other dwelling outside municipal limits that is dangerous or injurious to health, safety, or welfare.
Section 3: The county commission appoints employees to assess nuisances and notify the property owner with at least 60 days to abate.
Section 4: If not abated, the commission may declare a public nuisance by resolution, post a public notice on the property, and provide notice and a hearing with defined timelines.
Section 5: The commission conducts the hearing and may approve or overrule objections; if approved or no objections, the nuisance is declared and abatement must occur within at least 60 days after final action.
Section 6: County employees may enter private property to carry out abatement; owners may remove the nuisance at their own expense before county arrival.
Section 7: Abatement costs are documented, billed to the property owner, and become a lien; the costs are added to the property’s next tax bills and collected like other county taxes.
Section 8: The county can start civil action to abate or enjoin the nuisance and recover costs, including attorney fees, with prior notice to the owner.
Section 9: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Walker County