DARLINGTON — With fair weather in the forecast, the Darlington Police Department wishes to offer the following reminders to Darlington property owners regarding lawn and property maintenance ordinances. 

The purpose of these ordinances, which were created by Darlington residents, is to protect the character and stability of all areas within the city, and to preserve the value of land, buildings and structures throughout the city.

Lawns must be maintained. Weeds are prohibited and grass must be kept at a height of less than 8 inches. 

Unlicensed or inoperable motor vehicles cannot be stored in the city, unless they are stored in a structure where they cannot be seen. Recreational vehicles and trailers cannot be stored on the streets or in front of homes for more than 48 hours; they may be stored in a driveway provided the public sidewalk is not blocked.

Junk is prohibited upon private property. Curbside waste pick-up only includes routine household waste. The collection company will not pick up furniture, electronics, mattresses, or several other large items, and these items should not be placed at the curb. These items must be hauled to the dump or residents can call Faherty Inc. to arrange for a special pick-up.  

The exterior of every building and structure, including fences, shall be maintained in good repair and all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted as necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance. Buildings and structures shall be maintained free of broken, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick, excessive peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance. 

As always, city officials respectfully request property owners voluntarily comply with these provisions. Property owners who fail to voluntarily comply face enforcement action up to, and including, fines and abatement. Abatement is a process whereby the city will cause the yard or property to be cleaned up and all expenses are assessed to the property owner’s tax bill.

All Darlington ordinances can be found by clicking on the police pages of the city’s website at darlingtonwi.org. Furthermore, residents are welcome to contact Chief Jason King with any questions or to report violations at 608-776-4981.