From here on out, all residential garages in the Village of Peoria Heights must have retractable, overhead doors.

The Village Board amended the code to require garage doors at its meeting on Feb. 16, predominantly expressing concerns about public safety. Doorless garages can be unsightly and an invitation to animals and other potential nuisances, according to the majority. Trustee Sherryl Carter cast the lone dissent.

Existing garages without doors will not be grandfathered in, said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton, though enforcement will be complaint driven.

“We will work with them,” Sutton said. “We understand it’s a little bit more difficult to have a garage door installed ... We’d give them the same courtesy we do with any new ordinance.”

The new regulation does not apply to carports.

“It is an issue,” said Sutton. “Believe it or not, we do receive a lot of complaints on it ... It’s an ordinance I support.”