SB359 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Holtzclaw

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Madison, weed abatement as nuisance, notice, liens, foreclosure of property

Summary

In Madison, the city can declare overgrown grass and weeds a public nuisance, require property owners to abate it, and place a lien on the property to recover abatement costs.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines when grass or weeds become a nuisance and allows the enforcing official to issue a written notice to the owner to abate within 14 days (up to 28 days with reasonable factors). The owner can request a hearing, and if a nuisance is found, abatement must be completed within 10 to 28 days. If not abated, the city can perform the work and recover its costs by placing a weed lien on the property, which is added to the property’s ad valorem tax bill and collected like taxes, including foreclosure if delinquent.

Who It Affects

• Property owners within the City of Madison who have overgrown grass or weeds that meet nuisance conditions and may face abatement notices and weed liens.
• County revenue/tax officials who will add the weed lien costs to property tax bills and handle collection and foreclosure procedures if delinquent.

Key Provisions

• Defines public nuisance conditions for overgrown grass or weeds in Madison that may be abated.
• Authorizes notice and a hearing process for property owners before abatement actions are taken.
• Allows the city to abate the nuisance if the owner does not within the allotted time and to recover costs by imposing a weed lien on the property.
• Requires the weed lien to be added to the next ad valorem tax bill and collected like other taxes, with related foreclosure procedures.
• Provides for recording the lien with probate and states that redemption does not discharge the weed 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

Madison County