Q. Are there any enforceable laws that require property owners to eventually clean up their properties? In Hawai'i Kai, we have some absentee landlords who never attend to the yards and weeds have grown up over the years, as well as property owners who neglect the property they live on. When does a mountain of trash in a front yard become too much? Is is time to call the Board of Health?

A. The first thing you should do is call the city's Residential Code Enforcement Branch at 768-8280.

This branch investigates complaints about single or two-family dwellings, as well as overgrown vacant lots.

Inspectors from this branch can determine if there's a problem with weeds and litter on the property. Just realize that the determination won't be made on appearance alone.

If the city decides that there is a problem, a notice will be mailed to the property owner, including absentee landlords, unless there is a responsible tenant or property manager. The notice will usually give owners 30 days to clean up their yards or 20 days to clean up sidewalks abutting their property, although the time period is negotiable.

The city won't clean up private residences, but it will fine owners who do not clean their properties in a reasonable amount of time.

The city will clean the sidewalk, however, and bill property owners for the work.

Q. I've noticed a steady increase in the number of civilian helicopters flying over my home. Where can I complain?

A. You can call the Federal Aviation Administration's Flight Standards District Office at 837-6308 to see if there are any violations.

Before you make a complaint, however, you might want to make sure you have some information handy: