HB110 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Class 6 municipalities, weed abatement as nuisance, alternate procedures, alternate procedure liens under certain conditions

Summary

HB110 would create an alternate process for Class 6 municipalities to abate nuisance grass and weeds, including notification, hearings, and a lien to recover abatement costs.

What This Bill Does

It applies to Class 6 municipalities and allows them to declare overgrown grass or weeds meeting certain conditions a public nuisance and require abatement within 14 to 28 days after notice. It requires the property owner to receive notice by mail and be informed by a posted notice, with a right to a hearing before a municipal administrator and possible appeal to circuit court. If the owner does not abate, the municipality can perform the work, bill the owner for the costs, and place a lien on the property that is collected like an ad valorem tax; the lien is filed with the probate judge and the county tax collector adds the amount to the tax bill. Exemptions include heavily wooded undeveloped areas, farm properties, and properties under construction, and the lien survives redemption and transfers with property.

Who It Affects

• Property owners in Class 6 municipalities who own property with overgrown grass or weeds deemed a nuisance; they may be ordered to abate, receive notices, incur abatement costs, and face a lien if they do not comply, with rights to hearings and appeals.
• Municipalities (Class 6) themselves, which gain authority to declare nuisances, administer abatements, bill property owners for costs, and place and collect liens on properties.

Key Provisions

• Applies only to Class 6 municipalities.
• Defines nuisance as overgrown grass/weeds that threaten health, safety, fire hazard, or are unsightly, and sets a 12-inch height threshold in some cases; excludes heavily wooded undeveloped areas, farms, and properties under construction.
• Requires notice to the property owner by mail and conspicuous posting, with a 14-day abatement period (extendable up to 28 days) and a 10-day window to request a hearing.
• Provides for an administrative hearing, potential circuit court appeal, and a process for timelines and findings if a nuisance is confirmed.
• If the owner does not abate, the municipality can perform the work, bill the owner for actual costs, and notify the owner with an itemized bill at least five days before a council meeting.
• Creates a lien on the property for the abatement costs, to be collected like ad valorem taxes; lien is filed with the probate judge and added to the property tax bill by the county tax collector.
• The lien survives property redemption and transfers with the property; the act is cumulative with other municipal powers and becomes effective after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities