West Bloomfield, MI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Sec. 23-15(c) splits the township's mowing duty by property type. Subsection (c)(i) requires owners of residential and commercial property to cut the entire lot so grass and weeds never exceed eight inches. Subsection (c)(ii) instead applies to vacant, unimproved land that fronts an improved street, and only requires the owner to cut a 20-foot-deep strip along the property's perimeter, again keeping growth under eight inches at all times, rather than mowing the full parcel. Both duties begin by May 1 each year and continue as often as needed through the growing season.

Noxious weeds specifically named in Sec. 23-14, including Canada thistle, ragweed, poison ivy and poison sumac, still must be removed before they seed and before May 1 regardless of the 20-foot perimeter rule, since Sec. 23-15(a) applies that stricter duty to every property within the township, improved or unimproved. If a vacant-lot owner ignores the perimeter requirement, Sec. 23-16 requires a five-day mailed or posted notice, after which the township may enter and cut the 20-foot strip itself, billing the owner for the cost, or pursue a civil infraction with a fine of at least $100 plus costs, with every day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. Unpaid cutting bills become delinquent after 30 days and are added to the property's tax bill under Sec. 23-17.