The City is working actively to combat blight and hold owners responsible for maintaining their property. Part of this effort includes pursuing enforcement on illegal graffiti art, tagging and vandalism. The City recognizes that there is a wide range of styles of artwork that property owners invite on their structures, including some that may be in the “graffiti style.”
To better facilitate the enforcement process and in an attempt to avoid ticketing artwork that has been invited on private property, the City is asking that property owners register their public artwork so it is not ticketed as blight and/or removed as part of the City’s blight eradication efforts. City inspectors will consult this registry, an electronic database.
Property with registered artwork is still subject to the City’s property maintenance code. If a piece of art is in poor condition (showing chipping or peeling paint, vandalized with non-sanctioned tags) it may still be subject to ticketing and abatement measures.
If you receive a correction notice from the City to remove the painting from your property, and you wish to dispute the notice to correct, you must call 313-628-2451 as quickly as possible so the painting is not removed and you can be assigned a hearing date to make your case.
As of July 1, 2017, a property owner who receives a blight ticket as the result of vandalism now can apply for a mural painted on the vandalized wall to fulfill the portion of the ticket requirement to restore the wall. For more information on the City Walls program please call 313-628-4306 or visit City Wall Program page.
