7 On Your Side Asks Spartanburg County About Overgrown Yard

A Spartanburg family said they've spent 8 years watching the property next door turn into a breeding ground for insects and rodents. 7 On Your Side wants to know what the county is doing to help.

By: Dianne Derby | WSPA-TV
Published: June 17, 2009

Claude Campbell said the property next to his home in Spartanburg has seen better days. Eight years ago his neighbor died and he said since then the caretaker of the home has let the grass and weeds grow out of control.

"It could have been a pretty place," Campbell said.

Campbell said his biggest concern is the insects that have infested his property.

"I can't even get into my backyard, if I did there would be 50 on my arm," said Campbell.

7 On Your Side wanted to know what the county was doing to make sure it got cleaned up. Don Arnold with Environmental Enforcement sent his crew out to check out the property the day we notified him of the complaint. Days later his crew put notice on the home and at the home of the executor of the property telling him he had 20 days to take care of the overgrown grass and weeds. Arnold told us the executor had already been fined four times at a cost of nearly $1900. Arnold said he has limits to what he can do as the Environmental Enforcement Director.

"The law and the ordinances, the International Property Maintenance Code, does not have a habitual offender clause in it," Arnold said.

Assistant County Administrator, Chris Story, said there really is more they can do. He said the county has the authority to clean up a property and try to recover the costs from the owner in extreme circumstances.

When asked if this property was considered an extreme circumstance Story replied, "I would think so. It's one that we can address. Of course in the big picture the important thing for your viewers to know is we want to do everything possible for individual property owners to take responsibility for these situations."

And until Campbell sees someone take responsibility, 7 On Your Side will keep pushing for answers.

We tried to reach the executor of the property but found out he was ill and unavailable for comment.

Environmental Enforcement in Spartanburg County says a property is considered overgrown if the grass is more than 18 inches high.

If you have a complaint about an overgrown or abandoned property contact your local environmental enforcement office. You can also always sound off to your county elected representatives.