Overgrowth notices in unincorporated Hillsborough County.

PM 12.2 and the county’s property-maintenance rules

The county’s Property Maintenance Code guidance says the code regulates structures and properties in unincorporated Hillsborough County. It covers nuisance conditions including overgrowth, not just occupied houses.

The code is published in Chapter 8, Article IV. Current county hearing materials identify PM 12.2: Overgrowth and distinguish it from PM 12.1: Accumulations. See the 2026 county agenda for the agency’s use of these provisions.

Check your copy of the code and notice for the applicable vegetation standard, affected area and exceptions. A current county-wide numeric height was not independently verified in the accessible code text for this guide, so we do not replace it with an assumed 10-, 12- or 18-inch rule.

Contact the county, not a city based on the postal address

Hillsborough Code Enforcement’s published number is 813-274-6600. Ask for the officer assigned to the case and have the folio or parcel number available if the address is ambiguous.

Confirm whether the notice requires the entire lot, a specific area, debris removal or other maintenance. Large parcels may have trees, wetlands or other features that require separate review. Do not equate an overgrowth correction with unrestricted land clearing.

The county also describes a property-preservation ordinance allowing abatement of serious nuisance conditions on vacant properties. Ask whether any abatement action has already been scheduled; booking private work does not automatically cancel a county work order.

Special Magistrate and Board processes

The county publishes both Special Magistrate and Code Enforcement Board hearing processes. Community-code hearings may be assigned by area. Use your actual notice and the current agenda rather than an old meeting location.

Request an extension before the stated deadline with a realistic completion date and proof of scheduled work. If an order already controls the date, ask whether the matter must return to the hearing body. Prepare dated photos and invoices even if the property has been cleaned before the hearing.

Hillsborough’s lien-settlement procedure

Hillsborough’s official settlement page requires the violations to be brought into compliance before settlement or release. The owner or authorized representative must submit the complete application with notarized signatures and supporting information through the designated channel.

The county distinguishes a payoff inquiry from a settlement application. It also describes potential hardship consideration for qualifying homesteaded properties. Visit the official page for submission instructions and current conditions; a cleanup invoice alone is not an application.

For immediate work, call our cleanup line. After completion, send the officer the documentation and get the compliance date in writing before addressing a remaining balance or lien.