Complaints

The residents of Sycamore Township have a wide array of housing from which to choose. This diversity allows residents to choose a home of almost any style or budget. However, some residents choose not to keep up on their property maintenance and at times ignore local zoning codes. When you or the community find a property owner in violation, The Sycamore Township Planning and Zoning Department can act as an enforcer to correct the problem.

To report a complaint, you can pick up a complaint form M-F/8-5 at the Sycamore Township Administration Building, or one can be faxed to you, provided you have access to a fax machine. Please contact us directly if the complaint is of an urgent nature. Once the compliant is received, an investigation of the property will be conducted within a 48-hour period, unless prevented by reasons beyond our control. If found in violation, a courtesy letter will be sent to the property owner(s) and/or occupant(s) regarding the violation noting the attempts to resolve neighborhood conflict. It is not a violation notice, but rather a courtesy to alert them of the problem. If the property owner fails to fix the problem noted within a specified amount of time, a letter of violation will be issued, with particular fines associated. Under the Zoning Resolution, the Township may order property owners to correct violations at their own expense. Enforcement provisions may include a fine and court fees for those who do not comply. Although the Township code includes those options, our first approach is always to talk with people. We are not cold-hearted, unfeeling individuals. We try to give people the opportunity to work through their problems, if they have special needs, such as financial challenges or illness. The large majority of issues are usually solved with only a warning. Only a small percentage of Township properties have maintenance problems, the vast majority of Township residents and businesses take excellent care of their property.

The Zoning Department CANNOT do the following:

Solve property line disputes

Solve neighbor disputes

Handle water run-off issues

Solve traffic or road problems (other than Township roads)

Recommend appraisers or surveyors