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Troy, MI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing code
Chapter 82, Sec. 301.3, Vacant structures and land
Standard
Clean, safe, secure, sanitary condition
Purpose clause
No blighting problem or health/safety harm
Related weed cap
8 inches, Sec. 302.4.1, applies to vacant lots too
Enforcement track
Chapter 100 municipal civil infraction
Abatement cost recovery
Billed to owner plus 10% admin charge

Summary

Troy requires every vacant structure and every vacant lot to be kept clean, safe, secure and sanitary so it does not become blighted or threaten public health or safety. The rule sits in Section 301.3 of the Property Maintenance Code and applies City-wide to unimproved land, not just buildings.

301.3 Vacant structures and land. All vacant structures and premises thereof or vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition as provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem or adversely affect the public health or safety.

View official code

Full Breakdown

2 places the underlying maintenance duty on the property owner, prohibiting any owner-occupant from occupying or permitting occupancy of a premises that is not sanitary and safe. 1 caps turf grass and weeds at eight inches, a limit that applies to vacant parcels exactly as it does to improved lots. 4, including the City's authority to enter the premises and cut vegetation or remove blight and bill the owner for the cost.

Violations & Fines

A vacant lot in a blighted, unsafe or unsanitary condition violates Section 301.3 and is prosecuted as a municipal civil infraction under Chapter 100, Municipal Civil Infractions. Where the violation involves overgrown vegetation, the City may enter the premises under Section 302.4.3 to abate the condition and assess the cost, plus a 10 percent administration charge, against the property under Section 302.4.5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Troy regulate vacant, unimproved lots, not just buildings?
Yes. Section 301.3 of the Property Maintenance Code explicitly covers 'vacant land' as well as vacant structures, requiring both to be kept in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition so they do not cause a blighting problem.
What standard applies to an empty lot in Troy?
Section 301.3 requires the lot be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition so it does not cause a blighting problem or adversely affect public health or safety, backed by the Section 302 exterior-property and weed-cutting rules.
Can Troy clean up a blighted vacant lot and bill the owner?
Yes. Under the related weed-abatement provisions in Section 302.4, the City or its agent may enter the premises to abate the nuisance and recover the cost from the owner, including a 10 percent administration charge, per Section 302.4.5.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Troy

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsSnow & Sidewalk ClearingSome RestrictionsProperty BlightSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Troy rules

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