Code Enforcement includes the inspection, improvement, and rehabilitation of environmental hazards on public and private property by determining the presence of health hazards, nuisance violations, unsafe building conditions, junked and inoperable motor vehicles and violations of any health regulations or ordinances. Violations may be located by the Code Enforcement Officer or reported by any person. Upon inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer, the violator is notified of the violation, instructed on possible solutions and given a time frame in which to have the violation corrected. Non-compliance may result in the City of Statesville correcting the problem and billing the property owner for all work required, and/or a complaint being filed in Municipal Court against the violator.
Each year, as spring and summer bring warmer temperatures and fast-growing grass, the City of Statesville Code Enforcement Office sees a surge in weeded lot complaints. The City’s ordinance, which helps preserve neighborhood appearance and reduce health concerns, is enforced by the Planning Department with the help of a seasonal employee hired specifically to manage the influx of violations during peak months.
A property is considered in violation when the grass reaches a height of 15 inches or more. Once identified, the property owner receives a written notice and has 15 days to correct the issue. If the lawn remains uncut after that period, City crews will mow the property, and the owner is charged a minimum of $250 for the first hour of labor, plus $100 for each additional hour. Vacant lots are the most common offenders, along with right-of-way areas and strips between sidewalks and curbs, which are also the responsibility of the property owner to maintain.
To report a violation or obtain more information about Statesville's weeded lot ordinance, please complete the Contact Us form below.
