Maintaining a yard in the summer months can be a weekly challenge.
Mac Westbrook, the zoning and code compliance inspector for the city of North Augusta, said summer is the time that most people violate property regulations.
Foreclosures also tend to create eye sores in the community, he said.
"We just see a lot more (homes) that are empty right now that have overgrown yards," Westbrook said.
When he does have to cite a resident for breaking codes, Westbrook said that 95 percent of homeowners fix the problem within the seven-day time frame allowed from the date of the notice.
Violators are first given a written notice and then are summoned to municipal court if needed.
Residents of Hammond Drive visited a city council session June 15 to speak out about a neighboring lot with an owner that lives in Texas.
Sharon Ashe lives next door to a home that has weeds higher than the 12 inches allowed by the city. Not only that, but the back yard overgrown with shrubs provides a home to rodents, she said.
"It's very unattractive," she said at the meeting.
Ashe and two other neighbors asked city council what can be done about homes that constantly disregard city codes. Mayor Lark Jones said the Hammond Drive home has been violating codes more than 10 years.
Westbrook said that each offense is a new situation. Offenses do not accumulate like they do in Aiken County.
To help homeowners with maintaining their yard, Westbrook keeps a list of lawn care companies based in North Augusta at his office on East Buena Vista Avenue.
To find out more information about code regulations, call (803) 441-4258.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
PROPERTY REGULATIONS
NORTH AUGUSTA
Brush : All trees and shrubs not cultivated must be under seven feet in height.
Rubbish : Exterior and interior premises must be free from accumulation of items normally discarded.
Weeds : Uncultivated vegetable growth cannot exceed 12 inches in height.
Swimming pools : Need to have an operational pump or be covered to control mosquitoes.
Penalty: Written warning with seven days to correct the problem. Next step of action is a citation to appear in municipal court.
AIKEN COUNTY
Property : Premises shall not become unsanitary or a fire hazard by allowing any offensive or unsafe matter to accumulate and remain in place.
Rubbish : Accumulation of junk, disabled cars and trucks, trash, waste, old lumber, used tires and unused objects such as furniture, refrigerators and cans is not allowed.
Compost : Accumulation of compost piles that emit unpleasant odors or attract rodents is not allowed, with the exception of earthworms.
Water : Pools of water cannot accumulate and remain on the premises to the point of becoming stagnant and foul.
Penalty: Written warning with 30 days to correct the problem. If not corrected, a fine is between $200-$300 is imposed for the first offense. Subsequent offenses are $400-$500 and/or imprisonment for 30 days or less.
SOURCE: 2006 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AND THE AIKEN COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES ON NUISANCES
