HB517 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim Patterson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Class 3 municipalities, weeds, abatement as a nuisance, alternate procedures, lien

Summary

The bill lets Class 3 Alabama municipalities set up their own rules to declare overgrown grass and weeds a public nuisance and to abate it, with the costs placed as weed liens on the property.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes city councils of Class 3 municipalities to adopt procedures different from existing ones to declare weed nuisances and to remove them. After abatement, the costs are collected as weed liens in the same way as other liens. The municipality can assess these costs against land purchased by the state or by tax purchasers, and redemption does not discharge the lien. The act takes effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Class 3 municipalities (city councils) – empowered to adopt and implement new procedures for declaring weed nuisances and their abatement.
• Property owners in Class 3 municipalities – potentially responsible for abatement costs that become weed liens on their property.
• State of Alabama and purchasers at tax sales – assessments can be placed on land they own or purchase, with redemption not removing the lien.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the city council of a Class 3 municipality to adopt procedures for declaring overgrown grass and weeds a public nuisance and for abatement using procedures provided in the municipality's ordinance (alternative to Article 4).
• Requires that the costs of abatement be assessed and collected as a weed lien in the same manner as Section 11-67-66, Code of Alabama 1975.
• Allows assessment of abatement costs against land purchased by the State or by a purchaser at a sale for nonpayment of taxes; redemption does not discharge or otherwise affect the lien for the assessment.
• States that the act becomes effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor.

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