SB42 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

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

Summary

SB 42 lets Class 8 municipalities abate nuisance grass and weeds and recover the costs by adding them to the property’s ad valorem tax bill.

What This Bill Does

It creates an alternative process for declaring tall grass or weeds a public nuisance and having them abated by the municipality (or by contract). It requires notices to property owners and an administrative hearing to challenge the nuisance. If abatement is ordered and completed, the costs can be assessed as a weed lien on the property and collected by the county with the property tax; the lien can be foreclosed if unpaid. Paying the lien discharges it.

Who It Affects

• Property owners within Class 8 municipalities who may receive notices, hearings, and ultimately owe abatement costs via a weed lien on their property.
• Municipal governments in Class 8 municipalities, which gain authority to abate nuisances and to assess and recover abatement costs.
• County tax collecting officials, who would collect the weed lien along with ad valorem taxes and handle related enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Applies only to Class 8 municipalities.
• Defines nuisance as overgrown grass/weeds meeting health, fire, or public safety concerns (including height over 12 inches) and allows abatement.
• Creates roles: enforcing official, administrative official, and county tax collecting official for notices, hearings, and tax collection.
• Requires notice to the property owner, posting on the property, and an option for additional notice; provides a hearing process and a decision timeline.
• Allows abatement by the municipality if the owner does not act; delays if an appeal is pending; permits hearings and open records.
• Allows the municipality to recover abatement costs by assessment as a weed lien on the property, to be added to the county’s ad valorem tax bill and collected like other taxes; provides for penalties and foreclosure if unpaid.
• Lien survives redemption or sale; purchaser takes property subject to the weed lien; satisfaction of lien upon payment.
• Act is cumulative 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