SB112 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Class 8 municipalities, weeds, abatement, alternative procedures to declare a public nuisance after prior abatement

Summary

SB112 sets up a process for Class 8 municipalities to abate certain overgrown grass and weeds that are a public nuisance and to recover the costs by placing a lien on the property and adding the costs to local property taxes.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines when grass and weeds become a nuisance and requires notice and a hearing before abatement. If the owner does not abate, the municipality can perform the work and charge the owner for the costs. The charged costs are added to the property’s ad valorem tax bill and collected by the county tax collecting official, with a weed lien placed on the property; the lien can be foreclosed if delinquent, and there are procedures for recording and satisfying the lien.

Who It Affects

• Property owners in Class 8 municipalities who may be required to abate nuisance weeds and who could be charged for abatement costs via a weed lien on their property.
• County tax collecting officials who would add the abatement costs to property tax bills and handle collection and foreclosure procedures.

Key Provisions

• Nuisance criteria: Overgrown grass/weeds meeting specific conditions (health, safety, fire risk, aesthetics) are declared a public nuisance eligible for abatement.
• Notice and hearing: Enforcing officials must notify property owners, may post notices, and provide an opportunity for a hearing before an administrative official to determine whether abatement is required.
• Abatement and cost recovery: If owners fail to abate, the municipality may abate the nuisance and then assess the resulting expenses to the property.
• Weed liens and tax collection: The assessed costs become a weed lien on the property, to be added to the next ad valorem tax bill and collected by the county, with specified procedures for foreclosure and cost reimbursement.
• Recording and satisfaction: The municipality can file the lien with probate records and, upon payment, notify the county and file a notice of satisfaction.
• Official roles and effectiveness: Defines the enforcing official, administrative official, and tax collecting official; act is cumulative with existing powers and becomes effective immediately.

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