Report a Complaint About a Zoning Violation

Is someone using a property in a way that doesn't match the neighborhood? Our zoning ordinance protects the quality of your neighborhoods and business districts. You’re in the right place to report the suspected zoning violation.

Online Form

Identify your complaint

Our zoning ordinance protects the quality your neighborhood and business district. If your neighborhood consists of homes, it's likely zoned for residential use.
 
The following are examples of common violations:
  • Repairing vehicles not owned by resident
  • Commercial or industrial use of a residential building unless approved by Planning Commission
  • Regular parking of large commercial vehicles outside an enclosed building
  • Fence constructed without a permit
  • Storing a boat and/or boat trailer, motor home, recreational or similar vehicles in a way that isn't allowed
Not sure if it's a violation? Check out the Zoning Ordinance or use the information in the Contact Us section of this page to reach out to us.

Keep in mind

Together, you and your neighbors form a strong community. Working together to resolve an issue can create a stronger block and neighborhood. We’ve put together optional first steps before filing a complaint with us.
  • Try talking with the property owner. If you need help finding the owner of a property, contact the City Assessors' Office online or at (616) 456-3081
  • If the property owner needs help, refer them to the Planning Department at (616) 456-4100
  • Contact your Neighborhood Association to see if they're able to help the owner

Make sure you have time to complete the form

This form will take about 5 minutes to complete. You'll be able to save your entry and resume later if you need more time.

Consider creating a Citizen Access account

We use a third party application called Citizen Access to receive complaints about zoning violations. You can submit a complaint anonymously without logging in, or create an account and log in first to make it easier for you to track the status of the complaint over time.

Haven't used Citizen Access before? Make sure to review how to create an account before starting.

Submit your complaint online

After following the link below, you'll agree to the disclaimer. Select exterior from the drop down as Zoning violations are considered exterior violations. All you’ll need is the property address and a description of your complaint.

Submit a Zoning Complaint in English

We'll review your complaint

We'll start a case after we review and accept your complaint. Then we send a letter to the owner for complaints we enforce. We give the owner up to 21 days to correct non-hazardous issues. Our inspectors follow up with an on-site inspection. If timely corrections aren't completed, the process continues. If the complaint is a hazard, our inspectors inspect the condition as soon as possible. You can track this online through Citizen Access.

Check out our enforcement process(PDF, 313KB) for more details. 

Check the complaint status

Want to see what's happening with the complaint you filed? Visit the Citizen Access website:

  • Click the Enforcement tab. 
  • Click on the Case Number for more information
  • Don't see your complaint case Case Records? Search by Site Address, Parcel Number, or Case Number in the General Search section of the page
  • If you logged in before submitting your complaint, you'll see the case listed under Case Records

     

Paper Form

Review your options 

There's currently no printed version of this form. To file a complaint about a zoning violation, click the other tabs for online, phone and in person options. 

Decide which option works best for you and click the corresponding tab for more instructions. Have questions? Give us a call at the phone number listed in the Contact Us section of this page.

Phone

Identify your complaint

Our zoning ordinance protects the quality your neighborhood and business district. If your neighborhood consists of homes, it's likely zoned for residential use.

The following are examples of common violations:

  • Repairing vehicles not owned by resident

  • Commercial or industrial use of a residential building unless approved by Planning Commission

  • Regular parking of large commercial vehicles outside an enclosed building

  • Fence constructed without a permit

  • Storing a boat and/or boat trailer, motor home, recreational or similar vehicles in a way that isn't allowed

Not sure if it's a violation? Check out the Zoning Ordinance or use the information in the Contact Us section of this page to reach out to us.

Keep in mind

Together, you and your neighbors form a strong community. Working together to resolve an issue can create a stronger block and neighborhood. We’ve put together optional first steps before filing a complaint with us.

  • Try talking with the property owner. If you need help finding the owner of a property, contact the City Assessors' Office online or at (616) 456-3081

  • If the property owner needs help, refer them to the Planning Department at (616) 456-4100

  • Contact your Neighborhood Association to see if they're able to help the owner

Make sure you have time to complete the form

This form will take about 5 minutes to complete. You'll be able to save your entry and resume later if you need more time.

Consider creating a Citizen Access account

We use a third party application called Citizen Access to receive complaints about zoning violations. You can submit a complaint anonymously without logging in, or create an account and log in first to make it easier for you to track the status of the complaint over time.

Haven't used Citizen Access before? Make sure to review how to create an account before starting.

Give us a call 

Call us at the number listed in the Contact Us section of this page to file your complaint.

We'll review your complaint

We'll start a case after we review and accept your complaint. Then we send a letter to the owner for complaints we enforce. We give the owner up to 21 days to correct non-hazardous issues. Our inspectors follow up with an on-site inspection. If timely corrections aren't completed, the process continues. If the complaint is a hazard, our inspectors inspect the condition as soon as possible. You can track this online through Citizen Access.

Check out our enforcement process(PDF, 313KB) for more details. 

Check the complaint status

Want to see what's happening with the complaint you filed? Visit the Citizen Access website:

  • Click the Enforcement tab. 
  • Click on the Case Number for more information
  • Don't see your complaint case Case Records? Search by Site Address, Parcel Number, or Case Number in the General Search section of the page
  • If you logged in before submitting your complaint, you'll see the case listed under Case Records

In Person

Identify your complaint

Our zoning ordinance protects the quality your neighborhood and business district. If your neighborhood consists of homes, it's likely zoned for residential use.

The following are examples of common violations:

  • Repairing vehicles not owned by resident

  • Commercial or industrial use of a residential building unless approved by Planning Commission

  • Regular parking of large commercial vehicles outside an enclosed building

  • Fence constructed without a permit

  • Storing a boat and/or boat trailer, motor home, recreational or similar vehicles in a way that isn't allowed

Not sure if it's a violation? Check out the Zoning Ordinance or use the information in the Contact Us section of this page to reach out to us.

Keep in mind

Together, you and your neighbors form a strong community. Working together to resolve an issue can create a stronger block and neighborhood. We’ve put together optional first steps before filing a complaint with us.

  • Try talking with the property owner. If you need help finding the owner of a property, contact the City Assessors' Office online or at (616) 456-3081

  • If the property owner needs help, refer them to the Planning Department at (616) 456-4100

  • Contact your Neighborhood Association to see if they're able to help the owner

Make sure you have time to complete the form

This form will take about 5 minutes to complete. You'll be able to save your entry and resume later if you need more time.

Consider creating a Citizen Access account

We use a third party application called Citizen Access to receive complaints about zoning violations. You can submit a complaint anonymously without logging in, or create an account and log in first to make it easier for you to track the status of the complaint over time.

Haven't used Citizen Access before? Make sure to review how to create an account before starting.

Visit our office

To file a complaint in person, visit Code Compliance at the address listed in the Contact Us section of this page. We're open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, except public holidays.

We'll review your complaint

We'll start a case after we review and accept your complaint. Then we send a letter to the owner for complaints we enforce. We give the owner up to 21 days to correct non-hazardous issues. Our inspectors follow up with an on-site inspection. If timely corrections aren't completed, the process continues. If the complaint is a hazard, our inspectors inspect the condition as soon as possible. You can track this online through Citizen Access.

Check out our enforcement process(PDF, 313KB) for more details. 

Check the complaint status

Want to see what's happening with the complaint you filed? Visit the Citizen Access website:

  • Click the Enforcement tab. 
  • Click on the Case Number for more information
  • Don't see your complaint case Case Records? Search by Site Address, Parcel Number, or Case Number in the General Search section of the page
  • If you logged in before submitting your complaint, you'll see the case listed under Case Records