The Wilmington City Council has approved a bill that stiffens the penalty for not handling trash around stores selling food.
The bill, introduced by Councilmember Zanthia Oliver, amends Chapter 13 of the City Code regarding commercial property maintenance. The vote was passed with 10 votes yes with 3 members absent.
City code requires all owners of properties to remove garbage and other materials from sidewalks, footways, and alleys.
This ordinance increases the penalty from $50 to $150 for owners of stores that offer edible food products.
The ordinance also requires an attached lid for trash receptacles for properties from which a business license as a retail eating establishment is operated (except for mobile vendors). The effective date of the ordinance is March 1, 2020.
“We all must do our part to keep our communities in the city clean. Store owners and managers must take accountability for keeping their storefronts clean,” said Oliver. “It is simply unacceptable for the streets, alleys, and pathways around the stores to be full of trash. The least that they can do is keep the area around their stores clean. I appreciate the full support for this ordinance from council.”
