Elk River residents take great pride in our neighborhoods and community, which is why your City Council has adopted a standard reflecting that pride which in turn promotes healthy, safe, and high-quality neighborhoods. A well-maintained property is a valuable asset – it keeps property values high and the integrity of the neighborhoods intact. Elk River’s Code Enforcement Division is responsible for ensuring homeowners are upholding our quality of life standards, and seek to educate residents about some of the most common code violations they see:
Tall Weeds/Grass: As a rule of thumb, don’t let your grass/weeds exceed 8-inches in height. Don’t dump grass clippings, leaves or other vegetative debris into storm drains or catch basins. Keep all shrubs, trees, and ornamental landscaping neat and regularly maintained.
General Property Upkeep: Homes, sheds and other structures must be kept in good repair. Peeling paint, rotting wood, broken windows, etc. must be addressed. Fences must be structurally sound, and dead or diseased trees must be removed.
Parking/Junk Vehicles: Vehicles, RVs, and trailers may not be parked on a city street for more than 24 hours at a time. They must be parked on approved surfaces (concrete, asphalt, compacted Class 5) and must be legally licensed and operational when stored outside. If inoperable, the item(s) must be removed from the property or kept in a garage.
Outside Storage: Do not store lumber, pipes, machinery, household items, etc. alongside your home, shed, garage, or elsewhere even if covered by a tarp.
Signs in the Right-of-Way (ROW): Temporary signs are allowed on private property ONLY. Signs in the ROW (10-feet from the curb typically) will be removed.
Snow Removal: Sidewalks must be free of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snow event. When clearing snow from driveways and sidewalks, depositing snow into the street is a violation of state law.
If the city receives a report of a potential code violation or encounters one in the field, a Code Enforcement Officer will visit the property for assessment. If a violation is determined, the homeowner will be given written notice informing them of the infringement, which includes a timeline for correcting the issue. City staff will revisit the property, typically 5-10 days following the written notice, to ensure corrections have been made. Click here to report a potential code violation, or to learn more about Elk River’s Community Enhancement efforts, visit our website.