Owner Responsible for Refuse and Solid Waste Removal.
Grand Rapids City Code § 9.105
in effectSec. 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)
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_ART7LI_S9.105OWRERESOWAREFetched: 11/7/2026