(A) No owner, occupant or person having control or management of any land within the city shall permit or maintain on any such premises or adjacent rights-of-way any growth of noxious weeds; nor any growth of grass or other rank vegetation to a greater height than ten (10) inches on the average; nor any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush. "Noxious weeds" shall include Canada thistle (Circium arvense), dodders (any species of Cuscuta), mustards (charlock, black mustard and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis), wild carrot (Daucus carrots), bindweed (Convolvutus arvensis), perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), Hemp dogbane (Aporynum cannabinum), Wild lettuce (Lactura scariola), Common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvancum), Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), Foxtail (Serataria sp.), Pokeberry (Phytolacca americana), Multi-flora rose (Rosa multiflora), Kudzu, Japanese Bamboo and poison ivy (rhus radicans), poison sumac (Rhus toxicondendron), and poison oak.
(B) Exemptions to the requirements contained in division (A) above:
(1) Excepted from the provisions of division (A) above are flower gardens, plots of shrubbery, vegetable gardens, small grain plots, and farm land under cultivation. Exemption under the terms of this division (1) cannot be claimed unless the land has been cultivated and cared for in a manner appropriate to such exempt categories.
(2) While owners of undeveloped parcels of land shall be required to remove those noxious weeds as listed in division (A) above, the control of the growth of grass or other rank vegetation to a greater height than ten inches on the average, shall be required only within one hundred (100) feet of the property line of developed parcels, within the street, alley and highway rights-of-way adjacent to property and the first fifty (50) feet of property in depth adjacent to the rights-of-way.
(3) Developed parcels in excess of one (1) acre shall be required to meet the conditions of division (2) above, and to control the growth of grass or rank vegetation within the immediate one hundred (100) feet in any direction from the walls of the principal building.
(4) The City Manager or his designee may grant exemption in certain areas for the control of erosion, urban forestry, and preservation of any rare species of flora or fauna.
(Ord. 102-1985, passed 8-9-85; Am. Ord. 82-2005, passed 6-1-05) Penalty, see § 93.999