(a) Unoccupied or inoperative structures, and the lot upon which any structure is located, as well as unoccupied lots, shall be maintained in accordance with the provision of this Chapter. Any such lot shall be provided with grass or other appropriate ground cover or landscaping material so as to assure absorption of rainfall and prevent erosion and rapid runoff of surface water. The owner shall cut and maintain all grass or other ground cover and remove all rubbish and weeds from the premises. The parking of motor vehicles upon said premises shall be prohibited.
(b) If any structure or use shall become unoccupied or inoperative and not maintained according to provisions of this Chapter for a period more than one hundred eighty (180) days, it shall be presumed to be a nuisance affecting or endangering surrounding property values and to be detrimental to the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, property or general welfare of the community and shall be abated.
(c) Whenever the Safety-Service Director and/or his/her designee shall find any structure to be unoccupied and inoperative nuisance, notice shall be given in the same manner as service of summons in civil cases or by certified mail addressed to the owner or record of the premises at his last known address or to the address to which tax bills are sent, or by a combination of the foregoing methods, to abate such unoccupied or inoperative nuisance condition within adapting and using the structure for another use permitted by the Zoning District or by razing the structure, removing all debris, any signs, goods, supplies and equipment, and filling depressions to the grade level of the lot, provided, however, that if the structure is in use at the time notice is given and remaining in operation for ninety (90) consecutive days, the provisions of this Section shall not apply.
(d) Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner to comply with the notice to abate such unoccupied and inoperative nuisance, the Safety-Service Director and/or his/her designee shall advise the Law Director and/or City Prosecutor of all the facts and the Law Director and/or the City Prosecutor shall proceed to exercise on behalf of the City any remedy which shall then be available to it to secure an abatement of such unoccupied or inoperative nuisance, including, but not limited to, any remedy that pertains to the abatement of a public nuisance, and to recover any damages or enforce or file and/or collect any special assessments which may be recovered or imposed at the instance of the City, including all damages reasonable under O.R.C. 715.26 and 715.261.
(Ord. 3-15. Passed 2-23-15.)