Published May 19, 2025

The annual Dearborn Spring Sweep Week, beginning Monday, May 19, 2025, underscores the City's commitment to maintaining vibrant and well-kept neighborhoods. This program emphasizes the shared responsibility of residents and property owners in upholding community standards through proactive property maintenance. 

During this designated week, the City of Dearborn encourages all property owners to focus on enhancing the appearance and safety of their homes and property by addressing key areas of maintenance.

In preparation for the warmer months, inspections will focus on issues, including:

• - Tall grass and overgrowth
• - Trash
• - Unauthorized storage or placement of items on lawns and curbs
• - Business signage
• - Property upkeep and maintenance
• - Alley maintenance

Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud stated, “The success of Dearborn Spring Sweep Week relies on the active participation of all community members. By working together to maintain our properties, we contribute to a cleaner, safer, and more attractive city for everyone. This collective effort not only enhances neighborhood pride but also helps to preserve property values and provides a stronger sense of community spirit in Dearborn. The City encourages all residents to embrace this opportunity to revitalize their properties and contribute to the overall well-being of our community.”

This comprehensive effort includes several aspects of property upkeep. 

• - Residents are urged to meticulously inspect and clean their yards, ensuring the removal of accumulated leaves, branches, and other winter debris. 
   
• - Lawns should be mowed and edged, and gardens should be tidied to present a neat and appealing aesthetic. 
   
• - In addition, attention should be paid to the maintenance of landscaping elements such as shrubs and trees, including pruning as necessary to ensure they are healthy and do not obstruct sidewalks.

The Spring Sweep initiative also highlights the importance of addressing the outside of buildings. Property owners are encouraged to inspect their homes and buildings for any signs of disrepair, such as peeling paint, damaged siding, or deteriorating roofing. Necessary repairs should help maintain the structural and visual appeal of the property. Special attention should also be given to the upkeep of driveways and walkways, ensuring they are free of cracks, potholes, and overgrown vegetation.

Inspectors are available to provide information and guidance to residents. This annual effort is intended to address common property maintenance issues with residents and notify property owners of ordinance violations when identified. Please note: violations are not tickets. It is only a notification about a violation, and it will list a direct phone number to speak with the inspector about next steps.

Many code enforcement violations contribute to other public health problems and nuisances. Overgrowth, for example, creates habitats for rodents, which may also attract predators.

In 2025, inspectors will be especially focused on the upkeep of alleyways, including evaluating tall grass, trash and litter, and overgrowth, all of which can have an impact on pedestrian and vehicle traffic and pose aesthetic issues.

While ticketing is not the main focus of Spring Sweep Week, a citation may be given for extremely blatant violations. 

Renault Arseneau, Dearborn’s Code Enforcement Manager, explained, “Sweep Week 2025 will proactively address property maintenance concerns based on city ordinances, focusing on issues commonly reported by residents. An increased team presence will identify these concerns, and resolution will involve education, violation notices, and, in extreme cases, ticketing.”

This year, the City will continue to enhance and refine enforcement practices. The City of Dearborn Code Enforcement team also tracks the number of notices or property maintenance guides handed out, the number of code issues resolved without a ticket, and more, during each seasonal Sweep Week.

For more information about property maintenance and guidelines, visit Dearborn.gov/Property.  

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