Hammond officials outline enforcement steps as residents complain of rental-property neglect

At Mayor’s Night Out, residents described persistent trash and garbage cans left in front yards and sidewalks, and asked what the city can do to force landlords and tenants to comply.

Bill Lueder, director of Code Enforcement, said the ordinance requires garbage be removed after pickup and that the department typically begins with warnings. For repeat offenders the department will cite landlords and, if necessary, pursue fines in court. Lueder said the city sees repeat offenders and will work with inspectors to follow up on 311 complaints.

The mayor and other officials described a ‘‘pink sticker” system designed to visibly signal that a property has been cited and that corrective action will follow within a set timeframe. Inspectors and a municipal judge may allow continuances but officials said the court generally expects to see progress and that enforcement can take 60–90 days in some cases.

What’s next: Officials encouraged residents to file 311 reports with addresses so inspectors can follow up. Code enforcement staff offered to meet residents after the meeting to collect addresses for follow-up action.