1333.07 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS.
   (a)   Maintenance of Exterior of Premises. The exterior of the premises and the exterior of all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances, unsanitary conditions and hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner or operator. It shall be the duty of the owner, operator, and occupant to keep the premises free of hazards, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(Ord. 7837-06. Passed 8-14-06.)
      (1)   Refuse. An accumulation of brush, broken glass, stumps and roots that present a safety hazard, as well as compost piles, garbage, trash and debris which present an unsanitary and/or safety hazard;
      (2)   Natural growth. Dead trees and limbs or other natural growth which, by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage, constitutes a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof;
      (3)   Overhangings and awnings. Loose and overhanging objects which, by reason of location above ground level, constitute a danger of falling on persons in the vicinity thereof;
      (4)   Sources of infestation. The permitting of any premises to become infested with vermin or rodents is hereby declared to be a nuisance and unlawful. No owner, occupant or person in charge or control of any premises shall cause or knowingly permit such premises to become or to remain infested with vermin or rodents.
      (5)   Foundation walls. Exterior foundation walls shall be kept structurally sound, free from defects and damage and capable of bearing imposed loads safely.
      (6)   Chimneys and all flue and vent attachments thereto. Chimneys and all flue and vent attachments thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, free from defects and such as to capably perform at all times the functions for which they were designed and to withstand any wind forces to which they may be subjected.
      (7)   Gutters and downspouts. All gutters and downspouts shall be placed in compliance with this Building Code and maintained to collect surface water from roofs and conduct such water to storm sewers. Rusted, broken or damaged gutters and downspouts shall be promptly repaired or replaced.
      (8)   Sidewalks. All sidewalks shall be kept in repair. Any grade separation greater than one inch (1 in.) on the surface of a sidewalk caused by cracks or settling shall be promptly replaced or repaired. Sidewalks, where surfaces are eroded or pitted to such an extent to cause a safety hazard to pedestrians, shall be replaced or repaired.
   (b)   Appearance of Exterior of Premises and Structures. The exterior of the premises, the exterior of structures, the exterior of dwelling structures and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained by each owner or operator so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon does not constitute a nuisance and shall be kept in a condition which is not unnecessarily offensive to the visual sensibilities of the average person which would materially and economically detract from the district or neighborhood.
(Ord. 4421-75. Passed 2-16-76.)
      (1)   Residential. To effect the purposes of this Section, the owner, operator, and occupant of the premises shall use, maintain or refrain from using the premises and all buildings thereon, as the case may be, as follows:
         (Ord. 7837-06. Passed 8-14-06.)
         A.    Storage of commercial and industrial materials or waste. There shall not be stored or used equipment and materials relating to commercial or industrial uses or wastes unless permitted under the Zoning Code for the premises.
         B.    Landscaping. Landscaping and ground covering on all premises shall be installed and maintained. Lawns, grass or grasslike ground coverings, hedges and bushes shall be trimmed and kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property and impairing the good residential character of the immediate neighborhood. Grass in lawns, or other ground cover permitted to grow in excess of six inches (6 in.) in height, shall be presumed to be a nuisance.
         C.    Signs. All signs permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair, and printed matter, pictures or illustrations contained thereon shall be completely maintained or, when no longer in use, completely removed.
         D.    General Maintenance. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure, including fences, shall be maintained in good repair and all surfaces thereon shall be kept painted where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance, or surface coated with a protective coating or treated to prevent rot and decay. The same shall be maintained free of broken windows, crumbling stone or brick, peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance to the end that the property itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining properties and the immediate neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
         E.   Laundry. All laundry poles or lines for the drying of clothes shall be constructed and maintained only in the rear yard.
            (Ord. 4421-75. Passed 2-16-76.)
         F.   All interior window coverings, hardware and mechanisms shall be maintained clean and sanitary and in good repair and working order. No person shall utilize as either permanent or temporary window treatments, plywood, newspaper, banners, signs, bedding sheets or blankets or other building or household materials not intended or designed as window treatments as permanent window coverings.
            (Ord. 7984-07. Passed 10-15-07.)
      (2)   Nonresidential. To effect the purposes of this Section, the owner, operator and occupant shall use, maintain or refrain from using the premises and all buildings thereon, as the case may be, as follows:
         (Ord. 7837-06. Passed 8-14-06.)
         A.    Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be trimmed and kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property. Grass in lawns permitted to grow in excess of six inches (6 in.) in height shall be presumed to be a nuisance.
         B.    Signs and billboards. All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has peeled shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. All broken electrical signs shall be repaired or shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith.
         C.    Store fronts. All store fronts shall be kept in good repair, painted where required, and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. In the event repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs to a store front shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the store front in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area or areas. Any cornice visible above a store front shall be kept painted, where required, and in good repair.
         D.    Signs or advertising; removal. Except for "For Rent" signs, any temporary sign, temporary window or other paper advertising material glued or otherwise attached to a window or windows otherwise exposed to public view shall be removed within thirty (30) days after erection.
         E.    Awnings and marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. In the event that such awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed forthwith. In the event that such awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or similar materials, such cloth or plastic, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
         F.    Storage of industrial and commercial materials or waste, and motor vehicle equipment. There shall not be stored or used at a location visible from the sidewalk, street or other public areas equipment, materials, waste or motor vehicle equipment relating to commercial or industrial uses unless expressly permitted under the Zoning Code for such premises.
The parking or storage of boats, motor homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers or truck trailers used for sales or storage, between the property line at the street right of way and the front of every commercial or industrial building, is prohibited. All such boats, motor homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers and truck trailers used for sales or storage shall be stored in the rear yard and screened from view. In the event that the commercial or industrial building is located on a corner lot, boats, motor homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers and truck trailers used for sales or storage shall not be stored or parked between the property line at the street right of way and the side of the building facing the street.
   (c)   Structural Soundness and General Maintenance; Exterior; Residential and Non-Residential. Every owner or operator shall maintain the exterior of every structure or accessory structure free of nuisance. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure shall not be kept by any owner or operator in a condition unnecessarily offensive to the visual sensibilities of the average person which would materially and economically detract from the district or neighborhood.
   To effect the purposes of this section, the owner or operator shall use, maintain or refrain from using the premises and all buildings thereon, as the case may be, as follows:
      (1)   Painting and other protective coating. All surfaces susceptible to decay shall be kept at all times painted or otherwise provided with a protective coating sufficient to prevent deterioration or rot.
      (2)   Surfaces. All surfaces shall be maintained free of broken windows, crumbling stone or brick, peeling paint or other condition reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance.
      (3)   Exterior walls, sidings and roofs. Exterior walls, sidings and roofs shall be kept structurally sound, in good repair and free from defects.
      (4)   Damaged materials. Damaged materials shall be repaired or replaced.
      (5)   Rotted or corroded materials. Materials showing signs of rot, deterioration or excessive corrosion shall be restored and protected.
   (d)   Reconstruction of Walls and Sidings.
      (1)   No owner or operator of any premises or building shall cause or permit to be reconstructed walls and sidings on any buildings unless all construction of walls and sidings is of standard quality permitted by this Building Code and unless their appearance is commensurate with the character of the properties in the same block and on both sides of the street on which the premises fronts.
      (2)   No owner or operator shall use any material of a kind that, by its appearance under prevailing appraisal practices and standards, will depreciate the value of neighboring and adjoining premises.
   (e)   Freedom from Infestation. No owner or operator of any premises or any building thereon shall maintain the exterior parts of the premises or building to permit infestation of insects or rodents.
(Ord. 4421-75. Passed 2-16-76)