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Mountain Grove council adopts ordinance adding hoarding as a nuisance
Summary
The Mountain Grove City Council adopted Bill 2024-10, amending Section 24-3 to add 'dangerous accumulation/hoarding' as a nuisance violation to give the city clearer authority to enforce cleanup in hazardous hoarding situations.
The Mountain Grove City Council voted to adopt Bill 2024-10, an ordinance amending Section 24-3 to classify dangerous accumulation or hoarding as a nuisance the city may enforce.
At the second reading, staff described the measure as designed to provide the city clearer legal footing to require cleanup of properties that represent a fire or safety hazard. Becky, the city staff member who presented the ordinance, told the council it is intended for “major issues with hoarding” rather than routine trash complaints and would give enforcement officials authority to require corrective action in those higher‑risk cases.
Councilmember Dale moved to proceed with the measure. The council conducted a roll‑call vote and the mayor declared the ordinance adopted. Council members said the change will help the city address situations where hoarding creates life‑safety risks in adjoining properties or impedes emergency access.
The ordinance defines hoarding as the compulsive and/or dangerous accumulation of objects, goods, possessions, animals or similar items. Staff said the change supplements existing code sections on trash and property maintenance and is aimed at instances where cleanup is necessary to reduce immediate hazards.
The action now gives staff and code enforcement a formal mechanism to notify property owners, set compliance timelines and, if necessary, pursue cleanup with city oversight. Staff indicated the process will begin with written notices and opportunities for property owners to present remediation plans before more formal enforcement steps.
