Economic Blight is defined as the visible and physical decline of a property, neighborhood or city due to a combination of economic downturns, residents and businesses leaving the area, and the cost of maintaining the quality of older structures. These factors tend to feed on themselves, with each one contributing to an increase in the occurrence of the others.
What is the City of Flint Blight Elimination Program?
The program is designed to clean up the appearance of our city and encourage property owners, and residents, to take pride in their properties by removing exterior debris and making necessary repairs to the exterior of their homes.
What is Considered Blight?
- Trash in the yard, sidewalk, and exterior areas
- Weeds, high grass (over 8 inches), and broken windows
- Inoperable vehicles on the street as well as all vehicles parked on lawns
- Basketball hoops in the street
- Trash and yard waste placed at curb earlier than 7pm the evening prior to scheduled pick-up
- Excessive yard/garage sales (2 per year, each three days in length); allyard/garage sales require a City of Flint permit
- Signs placed between the sidewalk and curb or on utility poles
- Vacant/abandoned structures not maintained in a safe and secure manner, per city code
- Keeping more than three dogs without a kennel license
- Graffiti not removed within seven days
- Zoning ordinance violations such as non-conforming use of property
This is not a complete list. For a complete list go to the City of Flint web site and click “Ordinances.”
For additional information concerning zoning issues contact Thomas Spademan, 7th Ward Representative, Flint Zoning Board of Appeals (tspademan@sbcglobal.net).