Wayne County has tens of thousands of vacant lots, especially in Detroit where the Land Bank owns most. Owners must mow grass under 8 inches and remove dumped debris.
Vacant lots are a defining feature of Detroit and portions of Wayne County due to decades of population loss and the housing crisis. The Detroit Land Bank Authority, created in 2008 and expanded after the 2013 bankruptcy, holds title to tens of thousands of vacant parcels and sells or auctions them through side-lot, Build It Back, and occupied-home programs. Private vacant-lot owners in Detroit must mow grass below 8 inches, remove trash and dumped debris, and post ownership contact information. Failure to maintain a vacant lot triggers blight tickets and eventually a city mowing charge with a lien on the property. Dearborn, Livonia, and suburban Wayne County cities have similar vacant-lot rules, though vacancy rates are far lower. Wayne County Treasurer handles tax foreclosures that feed vacant parcels into the Land Bank. Adjacent homeowners can buy neighboring side lots for $100 to $250 under Detroit's side-lot program, which has transferred more than 25,000 parcels to neighboring owners.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Wayne County, MI
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See how Wayne County's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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