Flint, Michigan – People in Flint who haven’t paid their penalties for blight violations or the price of cleaning up after a structure fire may soon have a chance to lighten their financial load. City officials have started a short-term amnesty program that lowers the amount owing. This gives property owners a way to pay off debts that may have been hanging over their heads for years.
The program starts on Monday, September 8, 2025, and ends on Sunday, September 21, 2025. During the two-week period, residents can pay off any unpaid fees at a lower rate. The first week has the biggest discount. Payments will only be accepted for half of the total debt from September 8 to September 14. People who wait until the second week, from September 15 to September 21, will still get a 25% discount, so they will only have to pay 75% of what they owe.
City officials said the goal is not just to close accounts but also to keep neighborhoods stable. Mayor Sheldon Neeley said that fines for blight and fire damage might make it hard for families to move on.
“This program is about giving residents a fresh start,” said Mayor Sheldon Neeley. “Whether it’s a blight violation or the aftermath of a structure fire, we want to make it easier for families to move forward and continue investing in their homes and neighborhoods.”
The amnesty covers two main types of charges: blight fines, which are penalties and cleanup costs for code breaches, and structure fire fees, which are for cleaning up after a fire. Both have historically made things harder for people who were already having a hard time financially.
There are two places where you can pay in person. The South Building at City Hall will handle transactions for the whole program, but the Clio Road Community Service Center will only take payments on Wednesdays. People who don’t want to go to the city office in person can pay online at cityofflint.com. However, there is a modest cost for processing debit and credit card payments.
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You can call the Office of Blight Elimination at 810-237-2090 or send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions. You can also get help with fire-related balances from the Fire Bureau at 810-762-7336, option 0.
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People are saying that the project will help make the city cleaner and safer. Officials expect that by paying off these loans, homeowners would feel less stressed and more likely to invest in their homes, which will make neighborhoods in Flint stronger in the long run. The city is pushing eligible households to act immediately and take advantage of the lower prices before they go away because the program only lasts for two weeks.