Specifics from the Code

Here are some of the juicy tidbits from the 2012 Maintenance Code and the proposed Ordinance (read them here).

  • The code regulates all existing residential and non-residential structure (houses, barns, garages, sheds, fences, dog houses, etc) and the land the building sits on
  • It specifies the minimum requirements for anything you can think of (lights, heat, plumbing, maintenance, size and number of windows)
  • It applies to owners, occupants/tenants
  • If you break any of the rules, the township can demand that you fix the “problem”
  • If you don’t fix the problem, the Township will fix it for you, then send you the bill
  • If you cannot pay the bill, the Township will put a lien on your house… then comes the Sherriff’s sale.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer can enter your home without a search warrant.  If you refuse, he’ll go get the authorities.  (section 104.3 Right of Entry)
  • It shall be unlawful for you to be in violation of this code. (section 106.1)
  • Each day that you are in violation is a separate offense!!!  two days = two fines

Here are some specific rules from the Code.

  • You cannot have an unregistered or non-drivable car parked on your property (section 302.8)
  • No vehicle can be in a state of disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled (section 302.8)
  • You cannot paint your vehicle outside (section 302.8)
  • You cannot do any major work on your vehicle outside–it has to be done in a garage.  If you don’t have a garage, that’s too bad. (section 302.8)
  • There cannot be any standing water on your property (section 302.2)
  • You have to prevent soil erosion on your property (section 302.2)
  • You must have a fence at least 48 inches high around your swimming pool, hot tub, or spa that is more than 2 feet deep (section 303.2)
  • You cannot have weeds or plant growth over 14 inches (the supervisors picked that height all by themselves) (section 302.4 and section 3 of the Ordinance)
  • You cannot have noxious weeds (who decides what noxious weeds are??) (section 302.4)
  • Weeds are all grasses, annual plants and vegetation which are not cultivated, other than trees or shrubs (section 302.4)
  • You cannot have ANY peeling paint.  All surfaces (except treated lumber) must be painted or protected. (section 304.2)
  • No metal can be rusty (section 304.2)
  • You have clean off any rust stains from your house (section 304.2)
  • All windows must have screens (section 314.14)
  • All stairs of more than four steps must have a handrail; any surface more than 30 inches off the ground must have a railing (section 307.1)
  • Railings must be between 30 and 42 inches high (section 307.1)
  • A room must be at least 7 feet wide (section 404.2)—if the room is smaller, then what?  Leave home?
  • Kitchens must have at least 3 feet between the counter and anything else (section 404.2)
  • Your living room has to be at least 120 square feet.  If not, I guess you need to build a new house.  (section 404.4.1)
  • All bedrooms must be at least 70 square feet.  (If it isn’t, do they arrest you for sleeping in it?) (section 404.4.1)
  • There must be at least 50 square feet of space for each person that sleeps in a bedroom (section 404.4.1)—so if your house is small and you have four kids, you are in trouble.
  • You cannot have a captive bedroom (section 404.4.2)
  • Your toilet must be only one story up or down from the bedroom (section 404.4.3)
  • You cannot sleep in the kitchen or any other non-habitable area (section 404.4.4)
  • You must heat any occupied spaces to at least 65 degrees (section 602.4 and section 6 of the ordinance)
  • Your home must comply with the International Building Code, Plumbing Code, Electric Code, Mechanical Code (and other codes) (chapter 8 of the Code)
  • Drainage of roofs and paved areas, yards and courts, and other open areas on the premises shall not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance (section 507.1)
  • There can be no rubbish on your property (section 308)—but what exactly is rubbish?  Who gets to decide for sure?
  • All structures (sheds, fences, garages, etc) on the property in good repair (section 302.7)—so, what exactly is good repair?  Who decides?  How much will that cost you?