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Property Maintenance

Code Enforcement enforces the city's property maintenance ordinances citywide. The ordinances apply to undeveloped and developed private properties. The time allowed for correcting most property maintenance violations is seven days. Failure to comply with a notice of violation may result in a summons being issued to appear in General District Court, or abatement by the city's contractor with all costs billed to the property owner. If the bill is not paid, a lien is placed against the property.

Common Property Maintenance Violations include:	Common Examples Include:
Overgrown Grass/Weeds (City Code 23-50b); Accumulation of Trash and Garbage (City Code 23-50a) - It is unlawful for any property owner or occupant to allow grass or weeds to grow over 10 inches in height. This code also prohibits any accumulation of trash, garbage or litter on the premises.
Open Storage of Junk (City Code 23-48) - It is unlawful for any property owner or occupant to store dilapidated furniture, appliances, machinery, building materials or any other item which is rusted, wrecked, junked, dismantled or inoperative on private property. Licensed junk dealers are exempt.
Waste Management (Chapter 31 of the City Code) - Provisions of the code are enforced that govern the preparation, storage and disposal of waste. These provisions also address waste receptacle placement and storage, dumpster screening and private waste collection at the Oceanfront.
Inoperable Vehicle Ordinance (City Code 16-40) - Vehicles must be in operating condition and must have either a valid state license plate or a valid inspection sticker, and cannot be in a dismantled or wrecked condition.
Commercial Vehicles Parked in Residential or Apartment Districts (City Code 16-41.1) - Commercial vehicles parked in residential or apartment districts are subject to certain restrictions (click here).
Parking and Storage of Recreational Equipment and Non-Commercial Trailers (City Code Section 16-41.2) - Major recreational equipment and non-commercial trailers parked or stored in residential areas are subject to certain limitations (click here).
Swimming Pools,Spas and Hot Tubs...(Virginia Maintenance Code Sec. 303) - Swimming pools,spas, hot tubs and related equipment shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and in good repair. Enclosures are required for private swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, containing water more than 24 inches in depth and shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. Gates and doors in such barriers shall be self-closing and self-latching. It shall be unlawful for any person to own or control any outdoor swimming pool without having a fence surrounding such swimming pool, irrespective of the date on which such swimming pool was constructed.