(A) Except as provided below, the owners of occupied or vacant developed or undeveloped property within Northampton County, Virginia, shall cut the grass, weeds and other foreign growth on such property or any part thereof at such time or times as the governing body of Northampton County shall prescribe.
(B) Whenever the governing body of Northampton County deems it necessary after reasonable notice to the owners of occupied or vacant developed or undeveloped properties, that the governing body may have such grass, weeds, or other foreign growth cut, including running bamboo, by its agents or employees; in which event, the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by Northampton County as taxes and levies are collected.
(C) Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of such property shall have been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property.
(D) This section shall be in effect only in those portions of Northampton County which are within the boundaries of platted subdivisions or are zoned for residential, business, commercial or industrial use. No such ordinance shall be applicable to land zoned for agricultural use unless such lot is one acre or less in area and used for a residential purpose.
(E) This section shall not be construed to require the cutting of marsh grass, gardens or other actively cultivated areas, nor shall it be construed to require cutting or mowing of vegetation which is more than 100 feet from any structure (whether vacant or occupied), nor shall it be construed to require the mowing or cutting of grass, weeds or other foreign growth which is less than 12 inches in height.
(F) This section shall not be in effect within the corporate limits of any town within Northampton County.
(Ord. passed 9-16-1998; Am. Ord. passed 9-12-2023)