Westland's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Westland maintains 112 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with property maintenance. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Westland falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Westland requires every landowner to prevent noxious weeds from growing on their lot; unchecked growth is declared a public nuisance and the city can cut them and bill the owner.

Key details: Citation: §§ 106-93: 106-94. Cure period: 10 days after certified notice. Late penalty: 30% added to unpaid bill. Applies to: every lot, vacant or built.

Letting noxious weeds grow on any lot, vacant or occupied, is a declared public nuisance; after notice, the city can enter, cut them, bill the owner an administrative fee, and add a 30% penalty to unpaid bills.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westland actively enforces its vacant lot maintenance requirements.

Property Blight

Westland orders owners of blighted or dangerous buildings to repair or demolish within 90 days of written notice, following a public show-cause hearing.

Key details: Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 191-B-11 (7-18-05). Max time to complete work: 90 days from notice. Vacancy trigger: 180 consecutive days unoccupied. Appeal window: 20 days from hearing decision.

Failing to comply with a Sec. 22-44 abatement order lets the city demolish or repair the structure itself and place a lien on the property for all costs under Sec. 22-47.

Compared to other cities, Westland takes a harder line on property blight. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Westland gives property owners 24 hours to clear or salt sidewalk snow and ice, with city removal and billing for holdouts.

Key details: Clearance deadline: 24 hours after snowfall. Notice-to-cure window: 48 hours after notice. Unpaid fee surcharge: 10% administrative fee. Cost recovery: Tax lien on property.

Failure to clear within 24 hours triggers a city notice; failure to comply within 48 hours of that notice lets the city remove the snow/ice and bill the owner, with unpaid costs plus a 10% administrative fee assessed as a tax lien on the property.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westland actively enforces its snow & sidewalk clearing requirements.

The Bottom Line

Westland is tougher than many cities when it comes to property maintenance. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Westland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Westland can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.