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Property Maintenance & Code Enforcement
The City of Fridley enforces and maintains its comprehensive city code to uphold and improve upon the public health, safety, and welfare of the Community. Fridley takes two approaches to create stronger neighborhoods and uphold positive community standards:
- Educating residents on code requirements and common violations
- Treating properties in a fair and equal manner
Report a Violation
Visit the Fridley CitizenServe Portal or call 763-572-3598 to make an anonymous report of any potential code violations your observe. If you have questions about property maintenance requirements or code violations, contact Dan Cahill, Code Enforcement Inspector, at 763-572-3598 or Daniel.Cahill@fridleymn.gov.
Self-Inspection
Interested in finding out if your property is compliant with common city code violations? Check out the Fridley Code Enforcement Self-Inspection Checklist.
Common Violations
Materials, equipment, and vehicles should be stored inside, not in the yard.
Examples of outdoor storage that is not allowed:
- Garbage of any size, not in a closed container
- Garbage, recycling, and compost containers may only be placed at the curb from 5:00 PM the day prior to collection to 9:00 PM the day of collection.
- Furniture not designed for the outdoors
- Lawn equipment or tools
Exceptions include:
- Neatly stacked firewood (only in the side or rear yard – see diagram)
- Private outdoor recreational equipment (e.g., playground equipment, swing sets)
- Landscape materials and machinery being used for a current project
- Boats, trailers, and non-motorized campers (side and rear yard only – see diagram)
See Fridley Municipal Code 205.07.06B for more information
Homes and other buildings must be in good repair. Properties should be well-kept and free of excessive deterioration (e.g., paint chipping, general damage, broken doors, etc.).
Parts of your property to maintain and things to look for:
- Surfaces of outside walls, roofs, and foundation or basement (Of the main home, as well as garages, sheds, and other accessory structures) must:
- Be watertight, rodent-proof, and in sound and sturdy condition
- Be free from cracks, tears, or breaks
- Have no paint that is blistered or chipped
- Have no holes larger than 1 inch in diameter
- Doors, windows, and screens must:
- Close entirely
- Have all surfaces free of cracks, tears, or breaks
- Driveways and walks:
- Must have a smooth and even hard/paved surface
- No gravel driveways are allowed
- Gutters & downspouts must be:
- Securely attached to the building
- Maintained in good working condition
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of features to maintain.
See Fridley Municipal Code 205.07.06F for more information
Grass and weeds should not be taller than an average height of ten inches. When tall grass is reported, staff send a ten-day notice to the property owner. If the grass and weeds are not cut within ten days, the property is added to list of properties mowed by the city. Owners are charged each time the city mows the property.
See Fridley Municipal Code 105.03 for more information
All homes are required to have garbage and recycling service. Other relevant requirements include:
- Weekly Garbage Service – All residential properties must arrange to have weekly garbage service from a private hauler. Recycling is provided by the City’s contract with Republic Services for all single-family homes and multifamily homes with between 2 and 12 units.
- Garbage Container Storage – All garbage, recycling, and compost containers must be kept behind the front setback (i.e., the area between the street and the front-most building edge). See diagram for more details.
- Garbage Container Placement – Garbage, recycling, and compost containers may only be placed at the curb from 5:00 PM the day prior to collection to 9:00 PM the day of collection.
See the Fridley City Code for more more information
Inoperable Vehicles
All vehicles must be currently licensed and street operable if parked outside.
- Currently Licensed – Vehicles must have legal license plates with current tabs displayed.
- Street Operable – Vehicles must be operational, which includes:
- not having missing parts or flat tires.
- not being partially dismantled.
See Fridley Municipal Code 123.03 for more information
Parking
All vehicles, including motorized RVs, must be kept on a paved parking area. No cars can be parked on grass or any other unpaved surfaces. Gravel driveways are not allowed.
See Fridley Municipal Code 205.07.05 for more information
Large Commercial Vehicles
Various city regulations apply to large commercial vehicles:
- Large Vehicles – Residential properties may have one vehicle over 12,000 pounds. Semi-truck cabs are permitted; attached trailers are not. All large vehicles must be operated by a resident of the property they are located on.
- Distance From Front Property Line – Large vehicles must be parked at least 10 feet from the front property line.
- Idling and Noise – Excessive idling and noise are not permitted.
See Fridley Municipal Code 506.13 for more information
Fences must be well-maintained. Fences may be no higher than four feet in the front yard and seven feet in the side and rear yards. Fences can only be installed within the owner’s private property. Missing or broken parts should be replaced. Deteriorating fences should be repaired.
See Fridley Municipal Code 213 for more information
Temporary signs over six square feet in size are not permitted on residential properties. All residential temporary signs must be 10 feet from the property line and driveway. Various regulations apply to signs, with some signs requiring a permit. Click here for more information on signs and sign permits.
See Fridley Municipal Code 214 for more information
The Code Enforcement Process
The Code Enforcement process begins when city staff receive learn about a possible code violation. Complaints could be submitted by community members. Staff might also notice an issue while they are driving through the city.
Complaints are confidential. Anonymous complaints can be made online or by contacting the Code Enforcement Inspector at 763-572-3598. The identify of a complainant is protected under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
After a possible issue is noted, staff conduct an inspection. Generally, staff respond within one business day. Staff inspect the property for the described issue and any other potential code violations. If a violation is found, staff send a written notice containing a timeframe for the violation to be corrected.
Depending on the type of violation found, the owner of the property in violation is given between five and thirty days to correct the violation. Staff re-inspect the property on or shortly after this time to see if the issue has been corrected.
In severe cases where a violation threatens public health and safety, property owners are given a 24-hour notice to correct the violation.
If a code violation has not been corrected in the timeframe listed in the initial notice, the property owner will receive an additional notice. This notice states that staff will schedule an abatement or issue a citation if the violation is not corrected. In the case of an abatement, staff schedule a contractor to correct the violation, with the cost of the correction added to the property owner’s property taxes. With citations, the property owner may be charged with a misdemeanor with court fees of at least $300.