LITTER

Grand Rapids City Code tit. IX, ch. 151, art. 7

in effect

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.91 Definitions.

Sec. 9.91. - Definitions. In this interpretation of this Article the following definitions shall apply: (1) Garbage is putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food. (2) Litter is "garbage," "refuse" and "rubbish" as defined herein and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare. (3) Park is a park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or any other public area in the City, owned or used by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation. (4) Private Premises is any dwelling, house, building, or other structure, designed or used either wholly or in part for private residential purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building, or other structure. (5) Refuse is all putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes (except body wastes), including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned vehicles, and solid market and industrial wastes. (6) Rubbish is nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar materials.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.92 Litter in Public Places.

Sec. 9.92. - Litter in Public Places. (1) No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place within the City except in public receptacles, in authorized private receptacles for collection, or in official City Dumps. (2) No person shall throw any rock, brick, rubbish or other missile into or upon a public street. (3) No person shall take up any rock, brick, rubbish or other dangerous missile with the intent to throw or deposit it upon a public street in a manner which would be likely to endanger a person, property, or a motor vehicle. (Ord. No. 69-72, 9-9-69)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.93 Placement of Litter in Receptacles.

Sec. 9.93. - Placement of Litter in Receptacles. Persons placing litter in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles shall do so in such a manner as to prevent it from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private property.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.94 Sweeping Litter Into Gutters.

Sec. 9.94. - Sweeping Litter Into Gutters. No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City, the accumulation of litter from any building or lot, or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalk in front of their premises free of litter.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.95 Merchants to Keep Sidewalks Free of Litter.

Sec. 9.95. - Merchants to Keep Sidewalks Free of Litter. No person owning or occupying a place of business shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City, the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying places of business within the City shall keep the sidewalks in front of their business premises free of litter.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.96 Litter Thrown by Persons in Vehicles.

Sec. 9.96. - Litter Thrown by Persons in Vehicles. No person, while a driver or passenger in a vehicle, shall throw or deposit litter upon any street or other public place within the City, or upon private property.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.97 Truck Loads Causing Litter.

Sec. 9.97. - Truck Loads Causing Litter. No person shall drive or move any truck or other vehicle within the City unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any load, contents of litter from being blown or deposited upon any street, alley or other public place. Nor shall any person drive or move any vehicle or truck within the City, the wheels or tires of which carry onto or deposit in any street, alley or other public place, mud, dirt, sticky substances, litter or foreign matter of any kind.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.98 Litter in Parks.

Sec. 9.98. - Litter in Parks. No person shall throw or deposit litter in any park within the City except in public receptacles and in such a manner that the litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any part of the park or upon any street or other public place. Where public receptacles are not provided, all such litter shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere as provided herein.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.99 Litter in Lakes, Streams and Fountains.

Sec. 9.99. - Litter in Lakes, Streams and Fountains. No person shall throw or deposit litter in any fountain, pond, lake, stream or any other body of water in a park or elsewhere within the City.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.100 Dropping Litter from Aircraft.

Sec. 9.100. - Dropping Litter from Aircraft. No person in an aircraft shall throw out, drop or deposit within the City any litter, handbill or any other object.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.101 Litter on Occupied Private Property.

Sec. 9.101. - Litter on Occupied Private Property. No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied private property within the City, whether owned by such person or not, except that the owner or person in control of private property may maintain authorized private receptacles for collection in such a manner that litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk, or other public place or upon private property.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.102 Owner to Maintain Premises Free of Litter.

Sec. 9.102. - Owner to Maintain Premises Free of Litter. The owner or person in control of any private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter. Provided, however, that this Section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in authorized private receptacles for collection.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.103 Litter on Vacant Lots.

Sec. 9.103. - Litter on Vacant Lots. No person shall throw or deposit litter upon any open or vacant private property within the City whether owned by such person or not.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.104 Clearing of Litter from Open Private Property by City.

Sec. 9.104. - Clearing of Litter from Open Private Property by City. (1) Notice to Remove. The City Manager is hereby authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any open or vacant property within the City, or the agent of such owner, to properly dispose of litter located on such owner's property which is dangerous to public health, safety and welfare. Such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 1.11 of this Code. (2) Action Upon Non-Compliance. Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner or agent so notified, to properly dispose of litter dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice provided for in subsection (1), above, the City Manager shall make a full and complete report thereof to the City Commission, which may then proceed to levy a special assessment against property involved.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.105 Owner Responsible for Refuse and Solid Waste Removal.

Sec. 9.105. - Owner Responsible for Refuse and Solid Waste Removal. (1) All the owners of any property shall be responsible for the removal of any refuse located on the parkway adjacent to the owners' property on any day of a scheduled City refuse collection except when the items are placed on the parkway for City collection in accordance with this Code and the City rules and regulations. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall be a violation of this Code and shall constitute a nuisance which may be abated as provided for in this Section. As used in this Section, refuse shall include any solid waste, garbage, rubbish or refuse as defined in this Code and any trash, rubble, brush, used or discarded property. (2) Any authorized City employee observing a violation of subsection (1) of this Section may institute the procedure set out in subsection (3) of this Section. (3) The following procedure shall be used when a violation of subsection (1) is observed: (a) Any authorized City employee observing refuse not properly contained and marked for pick up may place a notice on or near the refuse which indicates the nature of the violation and that the owner of the property must properly dispose of the refuse, abate the nuisance and eliminate the violation before the next scheduled City refuse collection day. The notice shall also state that if the owner fails to abate the nuisance and eliminate the violation prior to the next scheduled City refuse collection day that the City will do so and that the owner will be responsible for all costs related thereto including administrative costs and fees. The notice shall also state that the accrued costs and fees shall be a personal debt of the owner and may be assessed as a lien against the property until paid. (b) Whenever a notice as provided in (a) above is served, the City shall also mail a notice to abate the nuisance to the owner of the property at the last known address shown on the City Assessor's records, which notice shall contain the information set out in (a) above. This mailed notice shall be sent by regular first class mail. (c) If the nuisance is not abated and the violation eliminated prior to the next scheduled City refuse collection day, the City may remove the refuse. (4) Upon the removal by the City of any refuse as provided for herein, the property owner shall, in addition to other remedies provided for in this Code, be responsible for all City costs and fees. (5) City costs and fees shall include, but not be limited to: (a) The cost of removal and disposal of the refuse or solid waste, and (b) An administrative fee as provided for in Section 9.112 of this Code to pay for the City's administrative costs. (6) When the City has collected and disposed of refuse pursuant to this Section, the costs and fees established by this Section shall be billed to the property owner. The costs and fees so billed shall be a personal debt of the owner to the City and may be collected in a civil action against the owner. The costs and fees so billed for the abatement of this nuisance shall also constitute a lien against the property and may be so assessed and collected as provided for in the City Charter. (Ord. No. 90-73, § 1, 10-16-90)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.106 Reserved.

Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIOLRE_CH151NU_ART7LIFetched: 11/7/2026