ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

Grand Rapids City Code tit. VIII, ch. 135, art. 3

in effect

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.230 Inspections Authorized.

Sec. 8.230. - Inspections Authorized. The standards of this Chapter are to be enforced by inspections of buildings, accessory structures and any property subject to any of the terms of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 15, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.231 Geographic Applicability.

Sec. 8.231. - Geographic Applicability. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all non-residential buildings, structures and properties located in the City of Grand Rapids. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 95-19, § 1, 4-11-95; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 16, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.232 Enforcement Process.

Sec. 8.232. - Enforcement Process. The City may, but shall not be required to, bring a violation of the standards established in this Chapter to the attention of the property owner or other responsible person by issuing a Notice of Violation or by any other lawful means. The City may prosecute or take other appropriate action regarding a violation of this Chapter without issuing a Notice of Violation. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 17, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.233 Time to Correct Violations.

Sec. 8.233. - Time to Correct Violations. Any Notice of Violation shall provide a specified time for achieving compliance in relation to the seriousness of the violation. If a Notice of Violation is issued, the following time limits shall be used: (1) Not more than twenty-four (24) hours for an emergency. (2) Not more than ten (10) days for correcting hazardous conditions. (3) Not more than one hundred twenty (120) days for all other violations, except as stated otherwise below. (4) The Administrator may approve an extension of time to correct a violation up to the doubling of the time provided in a written Notice when there are documented extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the responsible person or where the responsible person has made a substantial documented effort to correct violations. Granting of an administrative appeal shall be in lieu of an appeal to the Building Maintenance Appeal Board. No appeal to the Board shall be allowed if an administrative extension has been granted. (5) No other extensions or further extensions shall be permitted except by order of the Building Maintenance Appeal Board for good cause shown. The Building Maintenance Appeal Board shall be permitted to grant extensions up to but not exceeding three (3) times the length of time provided within the original Notice of Violation. The Board shall not permit more than one (1) extension. The Board shall be permitted to grant extensions when it can be demonstrated to the Board's satisfaction that the time allowed is unreasonable, circumstances have prevented a good faith effort to comply, or substantial work has been completed and additional time is warranted to complete the necessary repairs. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 18, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.234 Fees.

Sec. 8.234. - Fees. The following fees shall be paid by a responsible person to the City. Unpaid fees shall be a personal debt to the City which may be assessed as a lien against the inspected property until paid: (1) One hundred seventy five dollars ($175.00) for issuance of a Notice of Violation. (2) One hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for an administrative extension of a Notice of Violation. (3) One hundred dollars ($100.00) for issuance of any City Attorney letter warning of impending prosecution action. (4) Two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any reinspection requested by a City Attorney, the Court or an Officer of the Court to determine compliance with a cited violation of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 93-30, § 1, 7-13-93; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 19, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.235 Emergency Orders.

Sec. 8.235. - Emergency Orders. If the City determines that a condition exists or is likely to exist which is an emergency, the City shall immediately attempt to verbally inform the responsible person and all occupants of the building of the nature of the condition. The City shall immediately attempt to give Verbal Notice to the responsible person to correct the condition. Such an order shall be effective immediately. A written Notice of Violation called for by this Chapter shall be prepared and mailed and/or personally served to the responsible person as soon as practicable after the Verbal Notice herein referred to has been attempted. Failure to comply with an emergency order is a violation of this Code. If notice is attempted to be served in good faith but cannot be completed prior to having to take action necessary to abate an emergency condition, such notice shall be posted upon the subject property in a prominent location. Failure to comply with an emergency notice or order is a violation of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 20, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.236 Abatement of Emergency.

Sec. 8.236. - Abatement of Emergency. If the responsible person cannot be contacted or fails to correct an emergency condition within the time ordered, the City Manager or a representative of the City Manager may authorize corrective actions to abate the emergency. The cost of abatement shall be billed to the owner as a personal debt which, if unpaid, may be assessed as a lien upon the property involved. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 21, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.237 Authorization to Condemn.

Sec. 8.237. - Authorization to Condemn. It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy or any person other than the owner to enter any building or accessory building the City has condemned as unfit for human occupancy or entry for any of the following reasons or conditions: (1) An emergency condition is present. (2) A hazardous condition cited in a Notice of Violation has not been corrected. (3) A Notice of Violation, which contains an order to Repair or Demolish has been issued to the owner. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 22, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.238 Emergency Entry Authorized.

Sec. 8.238. - Emergency Entry Authorized. When an emergency is believed to exist within a property, building or accessory building, the City shall have the right to enter immediately and at any time without a warrant or without requesting permission. Entry must be for the sole purpose of determining that an emergency exists or to abate an emergency condition known to exist. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 23, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.239 Complainant Information.

Sec. 8.239. - Complainant Information. Prior to recording a complaint alleging a violation of the provision of this Chapter, the City may record the name, address and telephone number of the complainant, but only if such information is provided. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 24, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.240 Change in Ownership.

Sec. 8.240. - Change in Ownership. An owner or responsible person of a property who has received a notice regarding a violation of a provision of this Chapter shall notify the City by writing the inspector within ten (10) days of transferring ownership of the cited property to another person. The notice to the City shall include the name, address and telephone number of the new owner and the effective date of the transfer of ownership. The City shall immediately issue a new Notice of Violation to any new person assuming the ownership or the status of responsible person for any property which has been cited in a Notice of Violation. An owner or responsible person who has failed to comply with a Notice of Violation shall remain responsible for any violations cited in a Notice of Violation and shall not be relieved of the responsibility of having violated any provision of this Chapter by transferring ownership or responsible person status. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 25, 9-24-02)

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.241 Reserved.

Grand Rapids City Code § 8.242 Removal of Posted Sign or Notices.

Sec. 8.242. - Removal of Posted Sign or Notices. No person shall remove, damage, deface, interfere with, move or conceal any Notice or sign posted in accordance with the provision of this Chapter without first obtaining permission of the City. (Ord. No. 92-69, § 1, 10-20-92; Ord. No. 2002-56, § 27, 9-24-02)

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=TIVIEIIM_CH135BUMACO_ART3ENPRFetched: 11/7/2026