Nuisance Enforcement

The Ottumwa Municipal Code generally defines a nuisance as; "Whatever is injurious to health, indecent, offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as essentially to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property is a nuisance." Examples of nuisances that inspectors are looking for include: tall grass or weeds over twelve inches tall, trash or brush piles in yards and junk motor vehicles.

City Code allows Health Inspectors to enter private yards to investigate any nuisance or source of filth. Inspectors record and document nuisances they find. The resident will receive a written notice from the Health Department with specific information about the nuisance and a date for re-inspection. If the violation is not resolved by the listed date, a civil citation can be issued.  In addition, if the property owner does not resolve the nuisance, the City can then take action to abate the nuisance. The cost of the action will be billed to the owner.    Residents are asked to be cooperative with the Health Department staff. Attempting to prevent any public employee from performing their duty is a misdemeanor.

There is one Housing and Code Enforcement Inspector responsible for performing nuisance and housing inspections in the City.  Phil Northup may be reached at (641) 683-0649 or northupp@ci.ottumwa.ia.us.  Phil responds to many nuisance type complaints relating to tall grass and weeds, junk motor vehicles, scattered trash in yards, brush piles and other complaints.   You can e-mail a complaint to Phil and include as specific information about the problem as possible.

For nuisance reports/chart click here. For junk motor vehicle reports/chart click here.  

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