Grand Rapids, MI Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Common cites
- Vehicles, outdoor furniture, unsecured buildings
- Vehicle limit
- 1 unlicensed vehicle, 7-day cap
- Enforcement notice
- Notice to Abate, § 9.111
- Penalty
- Civil infraction, § 9.115
Summary
Grand Rapids' property maintenance nuisance list covers unlicensed vehicles left outdoors more than 7 days, indoor furniture left outside, unsecured vacant buildings and abandoned refrigerators: all civil infractions the City can abate and bill to the owner.
(11)Inoperable, Unlicensed or Unregistered Vehicles. No more than one (1) operable vehicle, that is unlicensed or unregistered shall be located outdoors for more than seven (7) days on a property with a residential or commercial structure. Such vehicle must be located behind a dwelling or commercial building. Inoperable, unlicensed or unregistered vehicle storage is prohibited on any vacant property, whether a structure exists on the property or not.(12)Outdoor Furniture. Any furniture or furnishings manufactured or intended to be for indoor use and is not constructed to be used outdoors, shall not be placed within the yard or on any unenclosed porch or similar area that will allow access for vermin, weather or arson. (Ord. No. 2006-32, § 1, 6-6-06; Ord. No. 2010-30, § 1, 6-22-10; Ord. No. 2013-44, §§ 2, 3, 9-10-13, eff. 10-1-13; Ord. No. 2023-29, § 1, 7-25-23)
Sec. 9.108a. - Personal Property, Belongings, Furnishings or Equipment Left in the Right-of-Way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Section 9.108 lists the conditions Grand Rapids code enforcement most often cites, including no more than one unlicensed or unregistered vehicle parked outdoors for over seven days (and none at all on a vacant lot), indoor-only furniture left in a yard or on an open porch, unsecured vacant buildings, and refrigerators, freezers or other airtight containers left outdoors as a hazard. Every property in the city, occupied or vacant, improved or unimproved, must stay free of these conditions. The City can issue a Notice to Abate under § 9.111, then perform the work itself and bill the owner if it isn't fixed.
Violations & Fines
Each is a civil infraction under § 9.115; unresolved violations let the City abate and charge the owner an administrative fee plus a lien under §§ 9.109-9.114.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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