FERNDALE, Wash. — In response to complaints while City of Ferndale code enforcement has been suspended, city officials today requested citizens and businesses work make an effort to clean up streets and yards.
Calling it the “Clean Neighborhoods Initiative,” citizens and businesses are encouraged to clean up area streets and yards.
The request is motivated by “festering complaints” accomulating since code enforcement was suspended back in March due to COVID-19 health safety impacts according to Ferndale Communication Officer Riley Sweeney.
According to Sweeney, the majority of complaints have been about abandoned vehicles and overgrown yards.
Click for more information
Click for more informationAccording to today’s announcement, “Efforts will focus on abandoned and scrap vehicles in front yards that are visible to the public and overgrown underbrush that can be a hazard with the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.”
Sweeney emphasized education rather than penalties stemming from enforcement of these issues should be expected. Complaints can be submitted to the city via an online form.
According to the Ferndale Municipal Code:
- Improperly maintained premises are vulnerable to several code violations including grass exceeding 6 inches in length
- Unmaintained or uncontrolled grasses, bushes, trees and other vegetation or the same left in piles about on any property are considered a code violation
- Up to 7 vehicles are allowed to be parked outside on single-family residential lots – this does not include visiting vehicles
- Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled and junk vehicles are allowed to be stored on private property if out of sight inside a building. Abandoned vehicles cannot be left on public streets or public property.
The annual Citywide Clean-up Day, typically held in April, was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. At the time, organizers said they hoped to reschedule it for the fall.