The Terre Haute City Council voted to amend General Ordinance 3-20-25, updating the city's property maintenance code to clarify enforcement timelines, replace the term "workmanlike" with "quality of work," and add a 15-day notice requirement before certain enforcement steps.

The amendment, presented by city staff member Marcus and carried on a voice vote, replaces older language in Chapter 7, Article 6, revises definitions related to workmanship and tree‑permit thresholds, and clarifies standards for firewood storage. Councilperson Azar moved to amend the ordinance; Councilperson Boland seconded the motion, and the amendment and final ordinance passed by voice vote.

The ordinance text now defines workmanship as "quality of work" and adjusts the code language about diameter and height thresholds for regulated trees and related permit costs. It also adds a 15-day notice requirement for a specified class of notices related to property maintenance enforcement.

Marcus told the council the drafting changes were intended to reflect prior council direction and to reduce ambiguity about how violations are found and enforced. "We stood up here and told you that you're not in violation of this code unless you ignore all of these steps," Marcus said, describing how the revised language distinguishes noncompliant conditions found in inspections from formal violations that occur only after a required correction timeline is missed.

On firewood storage, Jason, a member of the inspections staff, said the ordinance sets a two-cord limit for visible outdoor wood piles "because the intent of this is to make sure it's not scattered throughout the yards, which we've seen in our community today." He added that additional wood stored inside a garage or behind a screened enclosure is acceptable if stacked properly.

The ordinance also removes an earlier section referencing a warrant to enter a dwelling for inspections. Marcus told the council that warrant language had been removed at a prior meeting and confirmed the deletion, noting the city had alternative enforcement paths if access were refused.

Discussion at the meeting included brief public- and council-member questions about specific section removals and the practical effect of the new notice and entry language. Council members asked staff to confirm cross-references and confirm the struck language was removed per the changes discussed in prior meetings.

The ordinance was amended and then approved as presented. The council did not adopt any additional modifications at the meeting; staff will publish the final ordinance text in the city code.

The revisions take effect according to the timetable in the ordinance and will be incorporated into the city's code enforcement operations.