Northfield Township, Michigan

Unkempt and uncared for lawns are not pretty to the neighbors!  Last June the Township adopted a strict Noxious Weed Ordinance that can keep your neighborhood looking attractive.  Keep in mind, this ordinance only applies to "any subdivision, or platted or commercial lot less than one acre in size....in all zoning districts except agriculturally zoned property in excess of one acre in size".  So whether you would like to complain about an overgrown lawn or are the owner of an overgrown lawn, please take note of the enforcement process below:

  ALL COMPLAINTS MUST CONTAIN THE COMPLAINANT'S NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION. 

 ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS WILL NOT BE FOLLOWED UP ON!

1.     Serve a written notice to the owner or occupant of the property.

2.     If violation is not taken care of within ten (10) days, the Township shall contract to have lawn mowed.  All expenses for such service, plus a Township administrative fee of $50.00, shall be charged to and paid by the owner or occupant of the property.

3.     If the charges remain unpaid for sixty (60) days after it has been billed, the Township Clerk may file a lien with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds office.  The Township Clerk shall notify the owner of the property that the Township has claimed a lien.  NOTE:  failure to record the lien, failure to mail the notice to the owner, or failure of the owner to receive such notice, shall not affect the Township’s right to collect the charges.

4.     If the charges remain unpaid, the expenses plus accrued interest and penalties shall be verified on March 1 of each year by the Township Treasurer and certified to the Township Assessor who shall enter the delinquent amount on the next general ad valorem tax roll as a charge against the affected property.

5.     In addition to the abatement penalties in #2 and Section 3.0 in the ordinance, each violation that remains unpaid ten (10) days after receipt of written notice of a violation shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of up to $500.00 plus costs and all other remedies available by statute.  Violation of this article shall be punishable by the following schedule:

·       First offense:  not less than $1.00

·       Second offense:  not less than $50.00

·       Third offense:  not less than $100.00

·       Fourth offense within two (2) calendar years:  $500.00 plus costs and all other remedies available by statute.

Each day of violation shall be a separate violation.  If the civil fine is not paid within 45 days, it shall become a lien against the property as provided in #4 above and Section 3.0(c)2 in the ordinance.

Please contact Township Clerk  Michele Manning at (734) 449-2880, x14 or manningm@twp.northfield.mi.us if you have questions concerning this process.