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Identifying Ordinance Violations

Introduction to Code Enforcement

We've all heard the adage, "It takes a village to raise a child," but have you also thought about the idea that it takes a village to make a village? In other words, all residents contribute to the general sense of community and health in a neighborhood.

Those who keep their property in good repair, maintain their lawns, and dispose of trash properly, contribute to the sense that the neighborhood is a nice place to live, that people are friendly, and that, somehow, everyone is safer. Those who litter their lawns and curbs, abandon vehicles in their back yards, use their porches as garbage dumps, or whose homes have broken windows and other exterior hazards, contribute to the general decline and feeling of "dis-ease" in the neighborhood.

As a resident of a City of Grand Rapids neighborhood, you have a right to ensure that others in your neighborhood maintain at least minimum standards of cleanliness and repair on their homes. Although, in general, people want to "live and let live," when a property begins to adversely affect your quality of life or the value of your property, you can and should address the issue.

 

What Can Be Done?

First try talking with your neighbor. Perhaps he or she is a first-time homeowner and could use some tips on lawn care or the name of a professional house painter or repair person. Or perhaps the homeowner is elderly, a single parent, or has had personal or family problems that have sapped his or her time and energy for home and property maintenance. Maybe the home is rented and the landlord is unaware of the problems, or the tenant is unclear about his or her responsibilities for maintenance. If you need help identifying the owner of a rental property, contact the City Assessors' Office at (616) 456-3081.

Try not to approach the neighbor in anger or with recrimination; rather, frame your comments as personal or neighborly concerns. If you are able, consider asking if the neighbor needs any help or if you might organize others to help clean off a porch or lawn or secure a potential hazard, such as a refrigerator, until it can be removed. If your neighbor lacks the skill or the financial resources to attempt his or her own maintenance or repair, you might refer the neighbor to Home Repair Services at (616) 241-2601, which provides critical repairs for low-income and elderly homeowners and provides classes, a tool lending "library," and low-cost materials to individuals who qualify for assistance.

If the conversation with your neighbor takes a bad turn, simply walk away. Do not engage in an angry exchange of words, which may escalate to physical assault. There are other - safer - ways to achieve the goal of making your neighborhood safe and attractive.

If your person-to-person outreach doesn't work, contact your Neighborhood Association (for contact information or to find Neighborhood Association boundaries, click here ). Use the links in the Identifying Ordinance Violations section as a guide to identify possible ordinance violations. Staff at your neighborhood association can help by determining if there is a violation and contacting the Neighborhood Improvement Department or your community police officer to follow through.

It may take time for your neighbor to complete the work and clean up or to go through the entire Complaint Enforcement Process. Please be patient. Eventually, your "village" will become a safe, clean and attractive place to live - a place in which you and all your neighbors can take pride.