Local

Cobb County fining neighbor for land she says she doesn’t own

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — High grass, illegal dumping and abandoned cars.

A homeowner says she’s being fined for all of it but does not own the property where it is happening.

She says she plans on fighting these citations. The county admits some of the citations involved the wrong owner. However, there are still some citations related to her property.

“It’s literally legally impossible for me to be responsible for something I don’t own,” Amy Barnes said to WSB investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln.

But Barnes said that’s exactly what is happening.

“I felt horrified,” she said after receiving code violations pertaining to a strip of land running alongside her home. “And I’m praying that somebody actually figures out that I literally don’t own this land.”

That land in question is owned by a private owner, but Barnes says she has been cited for high grass, litter, and an abandoned pickup truck left in front of this property.

“I’ve basically taken over caring for that lawn, because I’m sick of the harassment,” Barnes said.

Fed up, Barnes says she placed signs throughout her property, letting the county know this side is her land and that side is someone else’s.

“It’s crystal clear that I don’t own it,” she said.

A code enforcement officer acknowledged the abandoned vehicle and property did not belong to Barnes. The county says it is aware of Barnes’ case and said a few citations were issued to her in error.

However, there have been other citations issued in direct connection to her property.

“I really do appreciate the county’s efforts to clean up properties, but I think they need to do the right thing and dismiss my tickets,” Barnes said.

Barnes says she needs to attend court to argue those open citations.

The county says even though the adjacent property is not hers, she is legally responsible for making sure the grass is trimmed in front of that property.

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