Property Maintenance

The Township follows the International Property Maintenance Code for property maintenance.  The International Property Maintenance Code is a model code that regulates the minimum maintenance requirements for existing buildings and exterior property areas.  The purpose of the Property Maintenance Program is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by requiring existing structures and premises to comply with the provisions of the Property Maintenance Code and if such structures or premises do not comply, the structure or premises shall be required to be altered or repaired to provide a minimum level of health and safety as required by the Code.

The responsibility for maintenance and upkeep falls on the owners, operators, and occupants of the property.  The Property Maintenance Code provides requirements that are intended to maintain a minimum level of safety and sanitation for both the general public and the occupants of a structure and to maintain a building’s structural and weather-resistance performance.  The Code provides specific criteria for regulating the following:

  • Installation and maintenance of specific building components
  • Maintenance requirements for vacant structures and land
  • Requirements regulating the safety, sanitation, and appearance of the interior and exterior of structures and all exterior property areas
  • Accessory structures
  • Vehicle storage regulations

It also establishes who is responsible for complying with the chapter’s provisions including the responsible parties for exterminating insects and rodents and maintaining sanitary conditions in all types of occupancies.

Procedures for filing a complaint

The best way to file a complaint is to use our Online Complaint Form.

When filling out the form, be specific in the explanation or list of concerns.  Please allow time for the complaint to be addressed.  We are required by law to follow specific procedures and allow time for the violation to be corrected.

Complaint FAQ's

Why a written form?

It is not accurate or efficient for Township personnel to properly convey your specific concerns to the property maintenance official regarding another person’s property.  Things reported over the phone can be misinterpreted or misconstrued and items could unintentionally be left out of the complaint.  It is important that the complainant convey your specific concerns in your own words on the Online Complaint Form.  The form creates a record that the complaint was officially filed and establishes the potential investigation initial information.

Why is my contact information required?

Contact information is required should the Code official need additional information, need to follow up with the complainant, or check for status updates in certain circumstances where violations are not visible from public areas, etc.

A form is considered incomplete if it does not contain all of the information required above.  The property maintenance program should not be abused by residents otherwise involved in property disputes with neighbors as a way of retaliation.  All complaints shall be legitimate code-related complaints.  Falsification of information or incomplete complaint forms may be rejected.

All complaint forms remain anonymous to the general public.  It is possible in certain situations your testimony may be required in court; however, that circumstance is rare and only requested when absolutely necessary.