Ordinances Ignored: Kinston Needs Accountability in Code Enforcement

Residents of Kinston have long complained about overgrown lots, abandoned houses, junk cars, flooding, and unsafe rentals. These issues drag down property values, erode neighborhood safety, and diminish quality of life. The ordinances to address these problems already exist — but enforcement has been weak, inconsistent, or ignored altogether.

At the center of this failure is Elizabeth Blount, the city’s Planning Director. She earns a great salary in a small town like Kinston, yet very little work is being done to enforce the codes. Ordinances have been placed on the back burner for far too long, and some are outright neglected. This has allowed blight, unsafe housing, and nuisance properties to spread unchecked.

The truth is simple: Kinston cannot afford complacency. If Ms. Blount is unwilling or unable to enforce ordinances with the urgency the community deserves, then she must shape up or ship out. The city needs someone in that role who actually wants the job and is prepared to do it. Right now, it is obvious she does not.

Forensic Ordinance Reform Plan

1. Property Maintenance & Nuisance Abatement

• Enforce strict timelines for weed abatement and overgrown lots.

• Remove junked and abandoned vehicles within 10 days of notice.

• Mandate repair or demolition of dilapidated structures; escalate fines for noncompliance.

• Require immediate cleanup of trash, debris, and illegal dumping.

2. Housing Standards & Rental Accountability

• Implement a Rental Registration Ordinance requiring landlords to register properties and undergo inspections.

• Enforce Minimum Housing Standards for heat, plumbing, and structural safety.

• Establish a Vacant Property Registry to track long-term vacant homes and penalize neglectful owners.

3. Stormwater & Flooding Control

• Update the Stormwater Utility Ordinance to require property owners to manage runoff.

• Enforce Sewer Use Ordinances to prevent backups caused by grease and waste.

• Strengthen Floodplain Ordinances to align with FEMA maps and require mitigation for new construction.

4. Public Safety & Quality of Life

• Crack down on Noise Ordinance violations (late-night disturbances, industrial noise).

• Enforce Animal Control Ordinances to address stray animals and neglected pets.

• Require adequate lighting ordinances for neighborhoods to reduce crime and improve safety.

  
  

5. Use It or Lose It Ordinance

• Create a “Use It or Lose It” ordinance targeting prime properties purchased but left idle.

• Require owners to develop, occupy, or maintain property within a set timeframe.

• Impose higher tax rates or penalties on absentee owners who let prime parcels sit vacant.

• Prevent speculative holding that drags down neighborhoods and blocks community revitalization.

  
  

Accountability Statement

These ordinances are not optional — they are the city’s legal tools to fight blight, protect residents, and restore livability. Without enforcement, they are meaningless.

Elizabeth Blount’s failure to act has left residents paying the price: higher taxes, declining property values, and worsening neighborhood conditions. Her salary is secure, but the community suffers. If she cannot deliver, then Kinston must find someone who will.

Community Call to Action

Kinston residents must demand accountability. Attend City Council meetings, speak during public comment, and insist that ordinance enforcement be prioritized. Push for a Vacant Property Registry, rental inspections, and strict nuisance abatement timelines.

The message should be clear: shape up or ship out. If leadership cannot enforce the laws already on the books, then the community must demand new leadership that will.

Final Statement

Right now, Kinston looks like trash in most low‑income areas, and we as residents will stand for it no longer.

Written and inspired by: Quarla Blackwell