Owensboro officials plan to tighten property maintenance standards, with the addition of mandatory mowing schedules for large undeveloped lots and creation of clear penalties for stalled construction projects. The changes come after years of complaints from residents frustrated by overgrowth and unfinished developments.
The Board of Commissioners gave first reading on Tuesday to amendments that expand enforcement under the Property Maintenance Code. City Attorney Mark Pfeifer said the revisions also clean up outdated references and clarify penalty structures.
City Manager Nate Pagan said the mowing provision addresses vacant parcels that have long been a sore spot.
“In the past, we requested property owners mow them at least three times a year, but it was not required by ordinance,” Pagan said.
Under the amendment, undeveloped parcels of two acres or more must now be mowed at least once before the end of May, once between June and August, and again after September 1, ensuring a minimum of three mowings per season.
The ordinance also targets incomplete construction projects. Pagan said the city previously lacked language for addressing partially built homes or commercial developments that remain untouched for months.
According to the ordinance, if construction stalls for 120 days on residential projects or 180 days on commercial ones, the city may designate the site as incomplete and begin enforcement actions, including issuing citations through the Property Maintenance Code Board.
Pfeifer helped draft the ordinance and said the new rules give officials a clearer path to intervene when properties fall into disrepair due to halted work.
“There was a gap in the ordinance,” Pfeifer said. “It didn’t address what happens if a project is left in a partial state of construction. If there’s not consistent, sustained effort over a certain period of time, code enforcement can now issue a violation.”
He said enforcement remains largely complaint-driven, with most citations stemming from neighbors frustrated by a property’s condition.
The ordinance does provide an exception for project owners who can demonstrate a legitimate reason for delay — such as supply chain issues. If the written explanation is deemed sufficient, enforcement may be paused.
In addition to those major changes, the ordinance includes corrections to outdated references, updated penalty structures, and clarifications to language regarding nuisances like hoarding, junked vehicles, dangerous structures, and overgrown weeds.
A second reading and final vote on the ordinance is scheduled for September 16.
