Regulation & Abatement of Nuisances
MRSC receives many requests for sample ordinance provisions to regulate activities that are identified as nuisances. The principal purpose of this series of Web pages is to provide a reference source to solutions including samples of regulatory language and in some instances to bring attention to programmatic approaches used to abate common nuisances. Since standards differ between rural and urban areas in terms of the degree to which nuisances are tolerated, enumerated in statutes and enforced, an attempt has been made to include both small and large communities, urban and rural and city as well as county provisions. For some topics there may be several examples, each a variation of another, while on other topics there may be only one example which seems to be accepted as standard language across the state. If you are aware of programs or effective ordinance provisions for topics included in these pages please contact Lynne De Merritt, Senior Research Consultant at ldemerritt@mrsc.org, or call at (206) 625-1300.
Contents
Nuisances - The Basics
- Why Control Nuisances?
- What is a Nuisance?
- Authority to Regulate and Abate Nuisances
- Methods of Abatement
- General Code and Nuisance Code Enforcement
- Neighborhood Dispute and Mediation Centers
- Sample Comprehensive Nuisance Code Provisions
Sample Nuisance Control Provisions
- Air Quality
- Animal Nuisances
- Automobile Nuisances
- Building Nuisances
- Dangerous Conditions or Activities
- Drug Nuisances
- Hazardous Substances
- Junk Vehicles
- Light Pollution, Ambient Light and Glare
- Litter and Garbage
- Moral Nuisances
- Noise - Public Disturbance Noise
- Peddlers and Solicitors
- Pest Control (Insects, Rodents and Wildlife)
- Property Maintenance and Clean-Up Programs
- Public Property and Public Ways
- Unsightly Areas
- Vegetation - Trees, Shrubs, Weeds
- Weeds and Noxious Weeds