WINSLOW — In his first two weeks as the town’s code enforcement officer, Jim Flanders said he has already received five complaints about unkempt properties in Winslow: Rodents hidden by unruly grass, garbage piles and appliances and furniture left scattered around buildings.

“While property owners have the right to do what they want with their own property, those decisions can affect the health, safety and property values of neighboring properties,” Flanders wrote Monday in an email.

To encourage residents to keep things orderly, town officials enacted an ordinance that took effect Saturday and sets minimum standards for the maintenance of structures and yards.

The ordinance stipulates property owners keep the exterior of structures “free from deterioration.” Homes at the center of town cannot have grass or weeds more than 10 inches in height. In commercial areas, they cannot be more than 6 inches tall.

Items on private property that might violate the code include general refuse, debris and junk, but also scrap lumber and metal, appliances, machinery, furniture and two or more unregistered or uninspected vehicles.

Town Manager Erica LaCroix said the code is modeled after an existing one in Waterville. She said the town has been receiving complaints for years about a handful of properties that present health and safety hazards to residents and drive down property values.

While she declined to provide their locations, LaCroix said many are rental properties or residences owned by people who live elsewhere.

“When we did not have a property maintenance ordinance, there was nothing we could actually do to enforce anyone cleaning up their properties,” LaCroix said Monday.

When the ordinance was introduced last year, there was concern rural areas would have to limit grass height, too. But the rules were modified so grass height restrictions only apply to residences and businesses “pretty much in the main corridor through town here, from Benton, Bay, Augusta Road and a little bit up China Road and Halifax and Clinton,” LaCroix said.

The Town Council approved the ordinance 6-1 in November. Councilor Jerry Quirion was the dissenter, arguing his constituents were wary of the limit on grass height.

When the code went into effect over the weekend, residents took to Facebook to complain. Some said it was a case of “overreach” by town officials, while others compared it to standards set by homeowners associations in planned communities.

LaCroix said the ordinance is “pretty basic” and vetted by the town’s attorney.

Residents had the opportunity last fall to voice concerns about the ordinance at a number of public hearings, but only eight people participated in those meetings, she said.

Flanders said his department will not be hunting for violators. The ordinance can only be enforced if someone files a complaint about a property, and the first step will be to contact the property owner about fixing the problem.

If a violator does not respond or correct the violation within 30 days, there can be a penalty of between $100 and $2,500.

“I can assure the community that I will not be driving around with a ruler looking at your grass height,” Flanders said. “If a complaint comes in, especially in the Bay Street area, it will be addressed, but I will not be doing drive-by checks of your lawn.”

There is an appeal process if a person believes the town has unfairly issued a citation, LaCroix said, adding the town will be held to the same standard as residents.

“This is mostly about safety and cleaning up some of our worst areas,” she said.

Added Flanders, “A community that looks well-maintained and attractive can attract more businesses and visitors, which can lead to economic growth.”

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