The City of Salem has adopted several ordinances to promote clean, safe, and attractive neighborhoods.

Inoperable Vehicles

What is an Inoperable Vehicle?

• Any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition, this includes cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, and etc.
• Sitting for a period of 60 days or longer
• Partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of the vehicle
• No valid license plates nor valid inspection decal displayed on the vehicle

Effective June 24, 2021, the City of Salem updated the Code of the City of Salem.  
The following are subject to civil fines in addition to costs and fees associated with removing the violation.

A fifteen-day warning ticket will be issued to all persons allowing the nuisance to continue.  This will include, but is not limited to, the property owner, lessee, occupant, etc.  Failure to abate the violation will result in the issuance of a ticket.  Failure to pay the associated fines will result in a summons to appear in General District Court.

Nuisances

1. High Grass, Weeds, & Over Grown Vegetation – Once grass becomes excessively high the City of Salem will notify all persons responsible for the premises whether owned, leased, occupied, or in their charge that it should be cut with a period of 15 days from notification. Note: Only one notification per growing season will be given. (April through November)
2. Trees – Trees or parts thereof in danger of falling or have fallen onto neighboring property, buildings, structures, vehicles, or any public right-of-way and trees growing into a structure.
3. Hedges, shrubs, trees – Hedges, shrubs, or other vegetation, any part of which extends or protrudes into any street, sidewalk, public right-of-way, grass strip or alley.
4. Trash – Trash, not clutter, which is not contained in an approved container.
5. Stagnant Water – Accumulation of stagnant water leading to the breeding of mosquitoes.
6. Vehicle tires – Vehicle tires that have been removed from the rim.
7. Infestation – Infestation by bats, rodents, insects, arachnids, or vermin.

Zoning Violations

Zoning Violations such as occupying an RV, fence height, site distance, storage containers, and illegal use of property.  

Sign Violations

Sign violations such as temporary signs, abandoned signs, neglected signs and prohibited signs.