HIGH WEEDS

Not only are high grass and weeds unsightly eyesores on our City; but they pose a fire hazard, block visibility for drivers, harbor rodents and snakes, and contribute to pests like mosquitoes and chiggers. Big Spring city code says that property owners are responsible for maintaining their yards and vacant lots.  City ordinance states that grass and weeds cannot be over 12 inches tall. If your grass is taller than 12 inches, you will receive a letter from our office.  You will be given ten days to comply. If, upon re-inspection, the nuisance has not been removed a citation can be issued with the Municipal Court. The minimum fine for a first offense is $250.00, but can reach up to $500.00. If a citizen has received a citation in the past for a weedy lot the citation can reach as high as $2000.00.

Junk vehicles are detrimental to the economic welfare of the City by producing ubran blight which is adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the City, therefore, such vehicles are declared to be a public nuisance.

The City of Big Spring Junk Vehicle Ordinance states the definition of a junk vehicle to be any vehicle, regardless of age, that is not operational, registered or is partially dismantled.  If a vehicle has been in the same location for over thirty (30) days, it can be considered a junk vehicle.  When a vehicle is considered a collector car or as the City ordinance defines them "antique or special interest" vehicle, the vehicle does not have to be registed, but just as with a junk vehicle, they must be removed from public view.  The ordinance also allows for the City of Big Spring to remove a junk vehicle if no action is taken by the property owner after notification.  When the appropriate steps are taken by the Code Enforcement office and these vehicles are removed by the City, that vehicle can no longer be titled in Texas and becomes a salvage vehicle.

Juked vehicles which are located in any place where they are visible from a puboic place or right of way :

• Are detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general pubic,
• Reduce the value of private property
• Invite vandalism
• Create fire hazards
• Constitute a nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors