City of New Buffalo, MI Article III Weeds and Other Noxious Vegetation

[Adopted 4-18-1995 by Ord. No. 101]

Section 15-11 Duty of property owners to cut and destroy.

[Amended 10-20-2004 by Ord. No. 147]

Each owner of property within the City shall be responsible for cutting and destroying any Canada thistles, milkweeds, wild carrots, ox-eye daisies, ragweed, poison ivy, tall grass and any other noxious vegetation growing or situated on any area of their property and adjacent curb lawn rights-of-way within the City. The above described vegetation shall be cut and destroyed and such property shall remain free of such vegetation thereafter and during the growing season.

Section 15-12 Notice to property owners to cut and destroy; removal by City upon failure of owner to comply with notice.

The City shall give written notice to the owner of any property containing vegetation described in Section 15-11 by first class mail to such owner as taken from the tax rolls, and such owner shall be given notice and shall have 10 days from and after such notice to remove the noxious vegetation from the property and adjoining rights-of-way. In the event such owner does not cut and destroy the noxious vegetation on their property within the 10 days as required, the City may enter such premises and cut and destroy such noxious vegetation. This notice shall suffice as notice for the entire growing season. In the event said noxious vegetation is again allowed to grow to a height of nine inches or more, the City shall have the right to remove said vegetation without additional notification.

Section 15-13 Responsibility of property owner for City expense.

[Amended 12-16-2008 by Ord. No. 182]

In the event the City is required to cut and remove the noxious vegetation from any property, as provided by the preceding Section, the City shall thereafter bill the owner of such property for the expense of cutting and removing/destroying such noxious vegetation and the owner of such property shall be responsible for the expense of cutting and removing/destroying the same. In addition to the owner of such property being responsible for the expense of cutting and removing/destroying such noxious vegetation that owner of such property shall be penalized by a fine not exceeding $200 for the first offense, a fine not exceeding $350 for the second offense, and a fine not exceeding $500 for each subsequent offense.

Section 15-14 Procedure for collection and cutting expense when owner fails to pay upon being billed.

In the event any property owner does not pay to the City the expense of cutting and destroying noxious vegetation, after being billed as provided by the preceding Section, the expense of so cutting and destroying shall be added to the tax bill of the owner of such property and shall become a lien against said property, and shall be collected in a like manner as taxes are collected.