Nuisance Education

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What is a Public Nuisance?

Per the Code of Charles County, Chapter 85 Nuisance; Public Health Section 85-2 the following conditions on residential property are declared to be unhealthy and unsightly constituting public nuisances that endanger the life, health, safety, and welfare of the entire County by affording a breeding place for or attracting insects, rodents, or reptiles by failing to exercise reasonable care and maintenance of structural improvements or by creating a substantial risk of danger to the general public through disease, fire, safety hazards, crime, community degradation, or other means:

Accumulations of scrap, paper, junk, vehicle parts, trash, garbage, leaves, cans, vessels, broken bottles, pieces of china, glass, debris, or other waste matter of any kind;
Grass, noxious weeds, uncultivated vegetable growth, briars, brush and plants that are more than one foot in height; or [Amended 3-5-2013 by Bill No. 2013-04]
Grease or oil; or
On improved residential property, exterior building disrepair, including broken windows, flaking paint, broken shutters or rainspouts, or other building damage that evidences a general disregard for the reasonable care and maintenance of the improved residential property; or [Amended 3-5-2013 by Bill No. 2013-04]
Any noncompliant condition as specified in Chapter 3 of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).

How to Resolve or Report a Nuisance

Report a Property Nuisance:

Report a Structure or Property Complain Web Form

Call Planning and Growth Management at 301-645-0700

A property nuisance reported above will follow the Nuisance Complaint process. For all other resources, please see our resources section.

Request Mowing, Removal of Deceased Animals and Maintenance to Drainage in the County Right -of-Way

Request Assistance from Animal Matters Hearing Board for Nuisance Conditions Related to Pets/Animals

Request Department of Natural Resources Assistance with Wildlife Nuisances

Request Assistance with Homeowners Association Disputes

Nuisance Complaint Process

Complaint Received

An Inspector will investigate the property within one business day.

Complaint Confirmed

Once an inspector confirms an active nuisance, a case is generated, and the property owners will be contacted.

Correction Period Image

Correction Period

The owners will have thirty (30) days to correct all observed nuisances.

Failure to Comply

If the owner fails to comply and correct all observed nuisances, the case will go before the Nuisance Abatement Hearing Board. At the hearing, the owner can testify to the condition of the property.

Podcasts:

Videos:

Resources:

Rat Harborage Prevention and Control Measures Flier from the Charles County Health Department

How to Dispose of Trash and Hazardous Material

Related Links

Podcasts:

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Resources: