Urbanna town officials get tough on tall grass and clutter

by Tom Chillemi –

The Urbanna Town Council approved a new ordinance on Nov. 17 governing tall grass, garbage, trash, refuse and “clutter.”

Town Attorney Andrea Erard told council the new ordinance is more “in sync” with state law, which now defines “clutter.”

Clutter as defined in the town’s new ordinance “includes mechanical equipment, house-hold furniture, containers and similar items that may be detrimental to the well-being of a community when they are left in public view for an extended period of time or allowed to accumulate.

“Clutter is further defined as miscellaneous items including but not limited to trash, appliances and furniture that are scattered in and about a yard and/or on the porch; a disordered collection of items in a yard or on a porch or up against accessory structure”; items that collect water, are rusted and inoperable or no longer usable.”

As an example, the town attorney said garden accessories are not a problem under this ordinance, but tires that allow water to collect in them where mosquitoes can breed is considered a problem that the new ordinance can address.

The ordinance includes photos to help define “clutter.”