§ 130A-19. Abatement of public health nuisance. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 130A‑19.  Abatement ofpublic health nuisance.

(a)        If the Secretary ora local health director determines that a public health nuisance exists, theSecretary or a local health director may issue an order of abatement directingthe owner, lessee, operator or other person in control of the property to takeany action necessary to abate the public health nuisance. If the person refusesto comply with the order, the Secretary or the local health director mayinstitute an action in the superior court of the county where the public healthnuisance exists to enforce the order. The action shall be calendared for trialwithin 60 days after service of the complaint upon the defendant. The court mayorder the owner to abate the nuisance or direct the Secretary or the localhealth director to abate the nuisance. If the Secretary or the local healthdirector is ordered to abate the nuisance, the Department or the local healthdepartment shall have a lien on the property for the costs of the abatement ofthe nuisance in the nature of a mechanic's and materialmen's lien as providedin Chapter 44A of the General Statutes and the lien may be enforced as providedtherein.

(b)        The Secretary ofEnvironment and Natural Resources and a local health director shall have thesame rights enumerated in subsection (a) of this section to enforce theprovisions of Part 4 of Article 5 and Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of thisChapter. (1893,c. 214, s. 22; Rev., ss. 3446, 4450; 1911, c. 62, ss. 12, 13; 1913, c. 181, s.3; C.S., ss. 7071, 7072; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1997‑443,s. 11A.62; 2006‑255, s. 13.5.)