EYESORE land and buildings could be cleaned up by Kirklees Council whether the owner wants the job doing or not.
Under an extension to planning laws, which could be introduced later this month, sloppy landowners and householders would then be forced to foot the Kirklees Council cleansing bill for any work.
Staff from the environmental services department would tidy up blots on the landscape and then recover costs from the owner.
Prosecution is also an option and carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
A report calling for the tougher measures to be enforced goes before Kirklees Planning and Highways Committee on Wednesday, December 17.
"The council spends £3.4 million a year clearing up litter and other rubbish in Kirklees," said Clr David Payne, Cabinet member for environment and transportation.
"We welcome this as part of a package of measures designed to stop people messing up our environment."
With the powers, environmental services would be able to serve a notice on owners or occupiers of land which has fallen into an atrocious condition.
Labour group leader Clr Mehboob Khan fully supported the plans, which he said were long overdue.
"It's time the council got tough on owners of land or property that has been left to rack and ruin.
"In the Birkby ward we have successfully used this scheme for some years to help clear up sites."
He said: "We will be asking for wider use of these powers to help tackle some awful problem sites such as derelict shop premises on New North Road, Huddersfield."
He said some landlords also neglected the appearance of rented properties.
