1317.01 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.

   All dwellings and commercial structures and parts thereof shall be maintained in good repair. The following standards are applicable to all structures, dwellings, residential, commercial and industrial buildings and surrounding property and if not maintained shall constitute a nuisance.

   (a)    Structural Soundness and Maintenance. The exterior of all premises and every structure thereon including but not limited to walls, roofs, chimneys, drains, porches, stairs, windows, doors, awnings, and all surfaces thereof, shall be maintained so as to avoid any adverse effects on neighboring properties and shall be painted or protected where necessary for the purpose of preservation.

      (1)    Exterior walls and surfaces. Exterior walls and other exterior surface materials shall be free of holes and cracks and loose or rotting boards and timbers and shall be maintained weathertight to resist decay or deterioration.

      (2)    Painting. All exterior surfaces shall be replaced or repaired in good condition before repainting. All bare exterior surfaces which are flaking or crumbling shall be replaced or sealed. All new or repaired bare surfaces shall be painted or coated.

   (b)    Landscaping. Grounds shall be landscaped with healthy stands of grass, appropriate ground cover, or other vegetation and shall be free of excessive weeds, trash and debris. Trees, shrubs, ground cover, grasses and other landscape materials shall be designed, planted and maintained in a manner consistent with good landscaping practice and kept in good repair.

   (c)    Rubbish and Garbage. All exterior property and premises shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage. The owner of every property shall dispose of all rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner. Refrigerators and similar equipment not in operation shall not be discarded, abandoned or stored outside where visible on any premises.

   (d)    Accessory Structures. All accessory structures shall be maintained structurally sound, neatly maintained, and in good repair.

   (e)    Infestation. All premises shall be maintained free from sources of breeding, harborage and infestation by insects, vermin, rodents or other wild animals.

   (f)    Abatement. If the nuisance is not abated within the required time, the Service Director, the Planning, Zoning, and Building Director, or their respective designee, shall take such action as required to effect its abatement, and shall cause the owner to be charged any and all cost of such abatement. For accounts remaining unpaid after ninety (90) days, the Finance Director shall cause a written return to be made to the County Auditor setting forth the city's action under this chapter, together with a statement of the expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, in addition to a ten percent (10%) penalty, including the amount paid for performing necessary labor and including a proper description of the premises, for the purpose of making such expenses a lien upon such lands, the same to be collected as other taxes and returned to the city with the General Fund in accordance with Ohio R.C. 731.54.

   (g)    Penalty. Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor pursuant to Chapter 165 of the Aurora Codified Ordinances.

      (Ord. 2019-190. Passed 2-10-20.)