1377.09 EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS.

   No owner or operator of any premises shall maintain or permit to be maintained at or on the exterior areas of such premises any condition which deteriorates or defaces that appearance of the neighborhood, adversely alters the appearance, or which is a public nuisance or health hazard, including but not limited to the following:

   (a)   Broken or dilapidated fences, walls or other structures.

   (b)   Improperly maintained walks, including public sidewalks, or driveways, or driveway aprons, creating a hazardous condition.

   (c)   Out-of-use or nonusable, dilapidated appliances, automobile or automobile parts.

   (d)   Rags, rugs or other materials hung on lines or in other places on such premises, which materials are not being used for general household or housekeeping purposes; broken, dilapidated or unusable furniture, mattresses, or other household furnishing; plastic materials, paints, miscellaneous coverings and/or any other materials, including those described in this section placed at or on the premises in such a manner as to be patently unsightly, grotesque or offensive to the senses.

   (e)   Lawns, landscaping and driveways shall also be maintained so as not to constitute a blighting or deteriorating effect in the neighborhood. Driveways shall be repaired and maintained with existing like material of either concrete or asphalt constructed in accordance with specifications prescribed by the Building Division. All sidewalks shall be repaired or replaced with concrete and the owner or operator of the premises shall be responsible therefor, irrespective of any municipally-financed sidewalk program which may eventually be implemented by the City at a later date.

   (f)   No motor vehicle, motor home, recreational vehicle (RV), boat, or other recreational vehicle, item, or device shall be parked upon the premises except upon driveways, parking lots or in garages. No parking shall be allowed on any grass, earth, stone, or patio areas. No such vehicle that is unlicensed, seldom moved (as determined by the Code Official) or immovable shall be parked, kept or stored on any private or public property, and no such vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disrepair, disassembly, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled, regardless of whether it has valid license plates, with the following exception: A vehicle of any type may be permitted to undergo major overhaul provided such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed areas designed, titled or owned by the owner of the property, and approved by the City Fire Chief and the City Building Commissioner for such purpose.

   (g)   No building materials or materials, earth, sand, or dirt intended for use in landscaping or gardening shall be left standing open or covered upon any premises for a period of time longer than six weeks.

   (h)   All existing dirt and gravel driveways, at the point of sale or transfer of ownership or by reason of foreclosure of property, of a residential property within the City shall be replaced with a hard-surface concrete or asphalt driveway in accordance with specifications prescribed by the Building Division of the City. Each driveway shall be a minimum of nine feet wide and extend from the curb or street line to the front of the building line of the garage. The width of the paving shall match the opening of the garage within thirty (30) feet of the garage. All such driveways shall thereafter be maintained by using the same type of material (concrete or asphalt. Any widening or alteration of driveways shall be constructed of the same hard-surface material as the existing driveway. All driveways shall conform to the requirements set forth in Chapter 1181 of the Planning and Zoning Code.

      (Ord. 2004-167. Passed 11-16-04.)

   (i)   Existing hard surface paved areas may be resurfaced with concrete or asphalt, in accordance with the "Recommended Specifications and Thickness Designs for Driveways, Parking Areas, Drive Aprons, and Sidewalks for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Areas" as prepared by the City Engineer, dated March 29, 2004.
(Ord. 2005-078. Passed 5-3-05.)

   (j)   All existing private septic systems, at the point of sale and transfer of ownership of a residential property within the City, shall be connected to the proper public sewer, in accordance with the provisions set out in Chapter 917, of the Codified Ordinances, within ninety days after date of official notice to do so, provided that such public sewer is accessible to the property. If no public sewer is available, the private septic system must be inspected and approved by the Cuyahoga County District Board of Health.

   (k)   All driveway aprons shall be replaced with concrete in accordance with specifications prescribed by the City Building Division. Al existing dirt, gravel, or asphalt aprons of a residential property shall be replaced with concrete at the point of sale or transfer of ownership of by reason of foreclosure of the property. Any dirt, gravel, or asphalt aprons to be widened or altered shall be entirely replaced with a hard-surface concrete apron. The aprons of driveways shall be maintained so as to prevent loose stones or gravel from spilling or falling over into or onto any public way, culvert, or storm ditch. Driveway Aprons shall be described as the area between the street edge or curb to the house side of the public sidewalk or a minimum of ten feet (10') if there are no public sidewalks.

   (l)   Bag mix concrete shall be approved for use for exterior property areas within residential districts within the City only with the certification of concrete testing upon mixing by an independent company paid by the permit holder.

      (Ord. 2004-167. Passed 11-16-04.)