Pittsburgh City Council considers ticketing people for trash, high weeds

PITTSBURGH — The City of Pittsburgh may soon issue tickets to people who fail to maintain their properties.

This week, Councilman Bruce Kraus introduced an ordinance that would fine property owners for “Quality of Life” violations.

People would be in violation by having more than 1 cubic foot of garbage accumulation on their properties, or high weeds growing in excess of 10 inches. Tickets would also be issued to people who fail to properly store their garbage cans and recycling containers.

People we spoke with on the North Side on Wednesday told us that they’re in support of the ordinance.

“Fine ‘em! They ought to,” one Manchester man said. “It’s really heartbreaking when property owners don’t maintain their properties.”

A first offense would cost $35. Fines would increase to $50 for a second issuance and $100 for a third issuance.

The ordinance states “at the discretion of the City of Pittsburgh, liens may be placed upon a property against which tickets were issued for which abatement has not occurred and payment is not received within 45 days of issuance of a ticket.”

Violators would be able to appeal a ticket within 15 days of its issuance.

Two neighborhood groups, Oakcliffe Community Organization of South Oakland and Knoxville Community Council sent letters in support of the ordinance to the mayor’s office.

The Knoxville Community Council’s president wrote that municipal waste and grass/weed overgrowth problems “degrade the physical appearance of our community while also negatively impacting public health and safety.”

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