SB326 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan Taylor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

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

Summary

SB326 creates an alternate process for Class 6 Alabama municipalities to abate nuisance grass and weeds, with owner notices, hearings, and a lien for abatement costs that can be collected as an ad valorem tax.

What This Bill Does

The bill applies only to Class 6 municipalities and defines when overgrown grass or weeds become a public nuisance. It sets criteria for notice, time to abate, and optional hearings before an administrative official, with the possibility of appeal to circuit court. If the owner does not abate, the city may perform the abatement and charge the owner the actual costs, then place a lien on the property and collect it through the ad valorem tax system. The lien survives property redemption or sale, and collection follows standard municipal assessment procedures.

Who It Affects

• Property owners of parcels within Class 6 municipalities who have nuisance grass or weeds on their property and may be required to abate or face city abatement with cost recovery and a lien.
• Class 6 municipalities and their officials who administer the nuisance abatement process, issue notices, perform abatements, assess costs, place liens, and collect them as taxes.

Key Provisions

• Defines nuisance conditions for overgrown grass or weeds, including height exceeding 12 inches and related public health, safety, and fire risks; includes exceptions for heavily wooded undeveloped areas, farms, and properties under construction.
• Establishes a notice-and-abate process: city official orders abatement, notifies the owner in writing, and sets a 14-day period (up to 28 days) to abate or request a hearing before an administrative official.
• Provides for an administrative hearing and possible circuit court appeal if the owner challenges the nuisance determination; hearings are conducted without a jury when appropriate.
• If the owner fails to abate, the city performs the abatement and bills the owner for actual costs; these costs become a lien on the property and are collected as an ordinary municipal assessment via the ad valorem tax system.
• The lien is filed with the probate judge and forwarded to the county tax collector; the tax collector adds the lien to the property’s ad valorem tax bill and collects it with other taxes; redemption does not discharge the lien.

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