Let’s Talk About Property Care
I’m sure you have noticed lately the amount of trash violations, overgrown tree wells, animal feces, electronic dumping, over flowing trash cans in our neighborhood.
Did you know that you have the power to help make a change in this neighborhood by reporting such issues?
The city has a Code of Ordinances (I’ve highlighted some of the important excerpts below) that outlines exactly what is and isn’t allowed. All of the trash issues we are experiencing are direct violations of the City’s Ordinances, and therefore we have the right to report them often, repeatedly, constantly, whatever it takes.
If you’re tired of living with the trash, read on, and share this information with neighbors.
When you report these violations, the city sends an officer out to document the violation. They then proceed with a citation/violation notice to the property owner. Sometimes this results in a fine. This hopefully then educates the property owner on the city’s requirements, resulting in better practice in the future.
When you see things like the following, you can report it:
trash/recycling out at the curb before 5pm on collection night
trash/recycling out at the curb on the incorrect night (not collection night)
trash, cans, recycling cans stored outside of a dwelling (on front porch, steps, visible in the grocers alley, etc.)
bulk items (couches, furniture, electronics, etc.) stored outside of residences - on porches, in grocers alleys, etc.
large amount of weeds/trash in a tree well on on any part of the property
uncut grass
Here is What You Do
Contact Brett Stout - City Sweep Manager brett.stout@allentownpa.gov (610) 437-8729 x2586
Give the address of the violation, and a brief description of the issue. A photo is not required, but sometimes helps to explain the problem.
Facts Taken From the City’s Ordinances
No person shall store a container, as defined above, in front of the property's main structure (including on the front porch), except when it is placed at the curbline or street for collection, as described below.
Furthermore, plastic bags are not to be stored anywhere on the exterior of the property except in approved containers prior to being placed at the curbline or street for collection, as described below.
Property owners of multifamily dwellings included in City Curbside Collection must provide a location on their property for the storage of trash and recycling in between collections. Storage must be in compliance with all City of Allentown ordinances and must not create a public nuisance or vector control issues. Exceptions and alternate storage locations may be subject to review and approval by the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste.
All municipal waste containers shall be placed at the curbline or street directly in front of the included residential entity where the municipal waste was generated not before 5:00 p.m., and prior to 10:00 p.m., only on their designated nights of collection.
No person owning, holding or in possession of any real estate shall allow or maintain on any lot or tract of land within the boundary of the City any growth of weeds to a height of over 10 inches and such growth of weeds is hereby declared to be a nuisance, injurious to the health, cleanliness, comfort, and safety of the residents of the City.