Athens and Limestone County

Litter, Sign, Open Burning, and Junk Yard Laws

LIMESTONE COUNTY

Criminal Littering:    Per Code of Alabama, it is illegal to "knowingly deposit in any manner litter on any public or private property or in any public or private waters, having no permission to do so."  To view entire regulation, click Section 13A-7-29 of the Code of Alabama.

Signs on State Right-of-Way:   Per Alabama State Highway Department Regulation 2.63, "no privately owned property shall be placed upon, affixed to, or maintained upon any publicly owned right of way, bridge or the approaches thereto on the State Highway without prior written permission of the Alabama State Highway Department." 

Signs on County Right-of-Way:     No person or business entity shall erect a sign, any portion of which is on the right-of-way of Limestone County without obtaining approval.  For entire Act, click Alabama Act 93-867

Junk Yards:  The regulation of the accumulation and storage of junk, inoperable motor vehicles, and other litter within the unincorporated areas of Limestone County, and licensing the operation of junkyards within the unincorporated areas of Limestone County is hereby declared to be in the public interest and necessary to promote the public safety, health, welfare, convenience, and enjoyment of public travel; to protect the public investment in public highways; to preserve and enhance the scenic beauty of lands and the environment; and to promote the conservation of natural mineral resources by encouraging recycling.  The Legislature finds and declares that within the unincorporated areas of Limestone County the accumulation and storage of junk, inoperable vehicles, and other litter, and the operation of junkyards, any of which do not conform to the requirements of this act, are a public nuisance.  For the entire Act, click Alabama Act 94-671

Open Burning:  It is a violation of the Air Pollution Control Regulations of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to open burn waste or scrap materials.  Some specific materials that are unlawful to open burn are natural and synthetic rubber, plastics, paper, cardboard, asphalt, heavy oils, insulation, transformers, motors, equipment parts, treated/painted wood, chemicals, wallboard, garbage and refuse.  For the entire ADEM Regulation, click Adem Regulation on Open Burning

CITY OF ATHENS

Litter, Weed, and Mud Control Ordinance:   Athens City Ordinance 01-1366 covers illegal dumps, littering, overgrown grass and weeds, junk automobiles, uncovered trucks, and business/construction cleanliness.                See summary below.  This is a lengthy ordinance and is not currently available here in full.  Please contact us with any questions.

Summary of above ordinance:   

• Litter:     It is unlawful for any person to drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter, trash, and/or mud in or upon any public or private property within the City of Athens including, but not restricted to, any street, median, right-of-way, sidewalk, park, vacant or occupied lot, or body of water, except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles provided for public use, or in an area designated by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as a permitted disposal site.

• Uncovered Trucks:     It shall be unlawful for any person, hauler, firm or business to haul garbage, paper, trash, sand, gravel, wet cement, construction materials, other loose materials or waste unless the truck or vehicle is covered, secured, or sealed to the extent that there will be no loss or spillage during haulage to cause littering of streets and highways or cause a nuisance or hazard to the public health. 

• Grass and Weeds:   Any person, corporation, establishment, firm, business, owner, agent, or occupant of property within the City of Athens who has weeds and tall grass (over 12") shall be responsible for cutting or mowing the weeds and tall grass to a height of not more than four inches (4") in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.

• Keeping Residential Property Clean:  It shall be the duty of each residential property owner and tenant to keep all exterior private property free of litter, trash, junk, and "junked or other vehicles."  These areas shall include, but not be restricted to, sidewalks, alleys, driveways, yards, grounds, fences, walls and property lines, public and privately owned storm drains, and vacant lots within the City.  Definition of Junked or Other Vehicles:  One that does not bear a current registration license plate and is unable to move under its own power.

Sign Control Regulations:   Athens City Ordinance 00-1326 is a supplement to "The zoning Ordinance of the City of Athens, Alabama" under the zoning authority of the City.  This is also a lengthy ordinance and is not currently available here in full.  Please contact us with any questions.

Commercial Handbills:  Athens Code Sec. 11-29 states:  No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any sidewalk, street, or other public place within the city.  Nor shall any person hand out or distribute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place.  Provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful on any sidewalk, street, or other public place within the city for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof any noncommercial handbill to any person willing to accept it.  (Ord No. 861, §11, 7-11-83)

Placing Commercial and Non-Commercial Handbills on Vehicles:  Athens Code Sec 11-30 states:  No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any vehicle.  Provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful in any public place for a person to hand out or distribute without charge to the receiver thereof, a noncommercial handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to accept it.  (Ord. No 861, §12, 7-11-83)