Staff Contact Information

Office Hours:
8:00am-12:00pm
1:00pm-  4:00pm
Monday-Friday


3rd Floor City Hall
1 S. Huron St.
Ypsilanti, MI. 48197
Phone: (734) 482-1025
Fax: (734) 483-7444


Building Department Manager/
Rental Inspector:
Frank Daniels
 
Rental Inspector: 
Debbie Neville

Code Enforcement Officer:
James Jackson

Secretary: 
Jenni Wennerberg

Related Departments:

Assessor                               
City Clerk and Treasurer
Fire Department
Planning Department
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Vacant & Dangerous Buildings

Vacant and Dangerous Buildings


On January 15, 2003, City Council passed an ordinance to provide enforcement and resolution procedures dealing with unsafe and dangerous buildings. 

Property owners of buildings that are deemed dangerous will be charged a monthly inspection fee as well as escrow for potential demolition or rehabilitation of their property.

Staff remains primarily focused on buildings that are:

  • Blighted
  • Causing an increase and staff time
  • Negatively impacting neighborhoods
  • Providing dangerous conditions
  • In the care of unresponsive property owners

Please contact the Building Department or Fire Department to report a vacant or dangerous building. 

How does a Vacant Property move to the dangerous list?

 

A vacant property moves to the Dangerous Buildings list through one or more of the following triggering events:

  • Fire or emergency personnel response
  • Law enforcement response
  • Excessive ordinance enforcement and subsequent abatements
  • Remains vacant for 12 months (due to prioritization, they will remain on the vacant list if they are in good condition and the property owner remains in engaged)
  • Citations issued or complaints made regarding property maintenance (often led by neighbors or neighborhood groups)

Dangerous Buildings


After a triggering event, inspection of the property is conducted to determine if the building is dangerous. The following contribute to the determination:

  • Exits do not meet fire code
  • The building is damaged by fire, wind, flood, neglect, or vandalism
  • Part of the building is likely to collapse and injure persons or damage the property
  • Settling of the structure to the point of structural weakness
  • Collapse due to dilapidation, decay, or faulty construction
  • Building becomes an attractive nuisance by harboring vagrants or criminals
  • Building is deemed unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, or likely to cause sickness/disease