Tag: commercial

City Commission Adopts International Property Maintenance Code

City Commissioners recently adopted the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), which establishes minimum and consistent maintenance requirements for existing residential, rental and commercial buildings.

History and Implementation of IPMC

Established in 1999 by the International Code Council, the IPMC is widely used in more than 40 states as well as the following comparable Michigan communities: Allendale, Alma, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Brighton, Charlevoix, Grand Rapids, Iron Mountain, Kalamazoo and Royal Oak. In Mt. Pleasant, the IPMC has been in effect for rental properties since 2007.

Benefits

The IPMC ensures consistency across all building types, and is compatible with International and State Codes. This provides clear expectations for property owners and occupants and specifically defines the Code Official’s role. With the IPMC, additional grant funding may be available.

Notification, Education and Enforcement

If a property has an exterior maintenance issue, city staff will contact the resident and/or property owner directly. The city will then follow these steps:

  • Provide education regarding property standards and responsibilities.
  • Suggest how to remedy the situation.
  • Share grant funding information, if applicable.
  • Issue a citation if the matter is not rectified.
  • Appeals are heard and ruled upon by the Building, Fire and Sanitation Sewer Board.
  • Appeals of board decisions go to Isabella County Court.

With IPMC, what property maintenance ordinances will remain the same?

  • Tall Grass Ordinance (96.05)
  • Solid Waste Ordinance (50.02)
  • Lighting Standard (96.13)

For more information regarding the IPMC and examples of exterior maintenance issues visit: www.mt-pleasant.org/IPMC. 

Sidewalk Snow Plowing Reminders

Sidewalk snowplowing by City staff does not start until the City streets, alleys and parking lots have been cleared. City staff snowplows 25 miles of residential sidewalk, no salt is used. 

For a map on which sidewalks are plowed visit: https://bit.ly/3JwVpAu. For those residential sidewalks not currently being plowed by City staff, please keep the safety of your family and neighbors in mind and remove the snow from your sidewalk and mailbox approach as soon as practical after inclement weather.

For Commercial and Industrial Property Owners: City ordinance requires commercial and industrial property owners to clear sidewalks within 18 hours after sleet, freezing rain or snow stops falling, with the exception of Sundays and holidays (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day). In this case, snow must be cleared by noon the day following the Sunday or holiday. If the snow or ice is too hard to remove, the owner must spread enough sand or other abrasive material to make travel safe and as soon as weather permits, and must clear a path of at least 48 inches in width.