Planning staff proposed that Plain City adopt a stand‑alone exterior property‑maintenance code to replace the limited maintenance language currently scattered in the zoning chapter. Staff said the model would borrow from the International Property Maintenance Code but be tailored to the village and limited to exterior requirements (tall grass, trash and debris, inoperable vehicles, exterior paint, unsafe porches, etc.).

Why it matters: Staff said a dedicated property‑maintenance chapter would provide specific, enforceable standards rather than the current broad “blight” language and would allow more direct remedies, including nuisance abatement and, if necessary, assessment of costs to a property. Staff noted the village currently lacks the full staffing capacity to perform comprehensive inspections and enforcement once the code is adopted.

Staff suggested a mix of enforcement and assistance programs: a low‑cost tool‑lending program (lawn mowers, power washers, paint equipment), periodic sponsored cleanup days with dumpsters, volunteer minor‑repair events and partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses for material donations. In previous municipalities, staff said these proactive measures, combined with targeted enforcement, reduced compliance resistance.

Nut graf: Adopting an exterior property‑maintenance code would create a clearer, more specific enforcement pathway for common problems (tall grass, outdoor storage, inoperable vehicles), but staff recommended pairing enforcement with community assistance programs and that the village consider a dedicated field inspector to manage complaints and abatement work.

Council members asked about timing and resources. Staff recommended preparing the code for council consideration and using the coming fall/winter to plan outreach and spring cleanup campaigns while pursuing a staffing/budget discussion to support enforcement and homeowner assistance programs.

Ending: Staff will draft the exterior property‑maintenance code (Chapter 13) and return with implementation steps, partner program proposals and a staffing recommendation; council signaled support for an outreach-first approach before mandatory enforcement.