The City Cracks Down On Code Enforcement

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The city of Sioux Falls is cracking down on homeowners who don't take care of their property.

Last week, it sent out hundreds of letters to people in the Pettigrew Heights neighborhood telling them to clean up their unsightly yards and homes or face a fine. Now, city code enforcers are going back to see if they're complying.

The Pettigrew Heights neighborhood has been on the city's radar for quite some time. It's been working with the Pettigrew Heights Homeowners Association to clean up eyesores and rundown properties. 

"We made contact with the property owners, the best we could as a courtesy trying to clean up the potential violations," Assistant Director of Building and Services Kevin Smith said.

A survey of the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago found more than 300 violations; everything from garbage and debris to broken windows. The city is now working with homeowners to make sure they comply with the code enforcement. 

"Our hope is that the vast majority of them are handled before we have to take any formal enforcement action," Smith said.

If property owners don't clean up their mess, they face a $100 fine or possibly more.

Smith says the code enforcement survey was done quickly because they want to have the neighborhood all cleaned up before Old Man Winter rears his ugly head.

"The last thing we wanted was someone get a letter in December about some physical repairs they would have to wait until spring," Smith said.

The city is doing follow up inspections all this week of the properties and homeowners who received letters.