National Used Cars, Inc. v. City of Kalamazoo

At issue is whether the constitutionality of a city ordinance requiring junkyards to be shielded from view may be upheld on aesthetic grounds alone. Under the authority of the home rule cities act 1 the City of Kalamazoo enacted Ordinance No. 509 which regulates the operation of junkyards within the city limits. The particular section of this enactment which gave rise to the present litigation is set out here in full:

"(a) Any yard used in conjunction with said business shall be shielded from view of any person traveling upon a public right-of-way or any person upon the premises of an…