(A) By the authority of the provisions of G.S. §160A-3, the storage, accumulation or presence of solid waste on public or private property in the area of jurisdiction of this chapter which is:
(1) A breeding ground or harbor for mosquitoes or other insects, snakes, rats, or other pests; or
(2) A point of collection for pools or ponds of water; or
(3) A point of concentration of gasoline, oil, or another flammable, toxic or explosive materials;
(4) So located that there is a danger of falling, sliding or turning over; or
(5) A source of danger for children through entrapment in areas of confinement that cannot be opened from the inside or from exposed surfaces or metal, glass, or other rigid materials is hereby proclaimed and declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance. Such public nuisance shall be subject to abatement as provided in this chapter.
(B) Upon reasonable cause to believe that a public nuisance as defined above exists, the Enforcement Officer or his designee, and upon not less than ten days' notice to the occupant and owner of the property on which the alleged nuisance is located, shall make a determination of whether or not such nuisance does, in fact, exist. If the Enforcement Officer makes a determination that a public nuisance exists, he shall enter and serve upon the owner and occupant an order to remove, abate or remedy the nuisance within a reasonable period of time, but not more than 30 days.
(C) Upon failure of the owner or occupant of the property, or of the person responsible for placing such solid waste on the property to remove, abate or remedy the nuisance within the period the officer has allowed, pursuant to G.S. § 160A-3 an Enforcement Officer shall remove, abate or remedy the nuisance as provided in the order and charge the cost thereof to the owner and occupant. If such expense is not paid by the owner or occupant within 30 business days, it shall be a lien upon the land or on premises where the nuisance arose and shall be collected as a monetary debt against the owner and occupant.
(Ord. 2020-04, passed 6-9-2020; Ord. 2021-01, passed 5-11-2021)