Neighborhood Services presents 2025 annual report: code enforcement, rentals and permit activity detailed

Neighborhood Services Director Samantha Albright presented the department's 2025 annual report to council on April 27, outlining code enforcement, rental registration, assessing, planning and permit activity.

Key figures reported for 2025 included 562 grass violations and 1,528 other enforcements; 104 of those matters resulted in abatements that cost the city more than $22,000 (78 abatements were for grass). The city's rental registry includes 2,551 units (more than 1,600 apartment units and 300 single-family rental units) and staff completed 841 inspections during the year.

Albright said the 2025 assessment roll generated about $23 million for county entities, with the city's share accounting for roughly 6.5 percent of that total. She also noted a substantial increase in construction valuation for the year (more than $154 million), with the Clemens project contributing in excess of $100 million; Walmart and Meijer projects were also cited as large contributors.

On permitting and inspections, the city issued 795 permits in 2025 and conducted over 1,300 inspections; third-party contractors (SafeBuild, KP Inspections, Spartan Inspections) perform many inspection and plan-review functions and were paid from permit fees. Albright also summarized cemetery revenues (about $59,000) and upcoming election work handled by the city clerk's office.

Council members thanked staff for the report. Albright encouraged residents and contractors to contact Neighborhood Services with questions on registrations, permits, inspections and property maintenance.