What is a nuisance and what are my responsibilities as a home owner?
A nuisance is a violation in which the public health and safety may be compromised or the quality of life is being impacted or diminished upon. A nuisance can be tall grass over 10 inches high, garbage put out more than 24 hours prior to pick up, violations that constitute a blight in a neighborhood, illegal dumping, not having a bulky waste sticker, and the accumulation of white good and/or other debris on properties. The City of Pittsfield has a comprehensive inspectional services program to eliminate all nuisances and if found, property owners may be cited and fined if not removed within 24 hours. If fines are not paid, fees can be attached to property taxes and a municipal lien can be placed on properties. It is the obligation of every property owner to prevent any nuisance from occurring and therefore should be prevented. To file a complaint of a nuisance, please contact the Health Department.
