A lien filled with statement of expenses for removing weeds, rubbish, brush and other objectionable, unsightly or unsanitary matter to bring a property into compliance is only inferior to what other liens?

• A. Mortgage Liens
• B. Tax Liens and/or liens for street improvement
• C. Utility Liens
• D. Personal property liens

Answer: (B)

The main idea is lien priority: when multiple liens exist, certain public debts take precedence over others. A lien for removing weeds, rubbish, brush, and other unsightly or unsanitary matters is a municipal code enforcement lien, and it attaches to the property to recoup the abatement costs. However, this type of lien is subordinate to taxes and to special assessments like street improvements. That statutory priority means the tax lien and any street-improvement assessment lien must be paid first, and the code enforcement lien would be paid only from what's left. That’s why this lien is described as inferior to tax liens and/or liens for street improvement.

Mortgages, utility liens, and personal-property liens don’t set the same priority in this context, and the key point here is the established precedence of taxes and street-improvement assessments over municipal cleanup liens.