(a) The penalties adopted for violations for certain property maintenance standards are as follows:
(1) High Grass. An owner who does not maintain the owner's grass in accordance with the property maintenance standards shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. lf cut by the owner within five (5) days after the date of the notice of violation, then there shall be no penalty.
B. lf not cut by owner within five (5) days after the date of the notice of violation, then the code official shall issue a work order directing the Department of Public Works to cut the grass.
C. If the code official issues a work order, then the owner shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the first offense; three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the second offense; four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the third and subsequent offenses. In addition to such fine, the owner shall be fined an additional amount equal to the costs charged by the Department of Public Works to cut the grass, if any.
(2) Garbage Removal. An owner who allows rubbish, litter, tires, auto parts, old appliances, and similar garbage to accumulate in and around the exterior of the owner's property shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. lf removed by the owner within five (5) days after the date of the notice of violation, then there shall be no penalty.
B. If not removed by owner within five (5) days after the date of the notice of violation, then the code official shall issue a work order directing the Department of Public Works to remove the garbage.
C. If the code official issues a work order, then the owner shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the first offense; three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the second offense; four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the third and subsequent offenses. In addition to such fine, the owner shall be fined an additional amount equal to the costs charged by the Department of Public Works to remove the grass, if any, plus any applicable landfill fee.
(3) Vehicle Towing. Any illegally parked vehicle not moved by the owner shall be towed at the owner's expense. An owner committing a second or subsequent offense shall be subject to a fine of between one hundred dollars ($100.00) to five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus the costs of towing, as determined by the Municipal Court.
(4) Securing Properties. Any owner who has been directed to secure the owner's property by the code official and who fails to do so within the time specified in the notice of violation or appropriate order, shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. Two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the first offense; three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the second offense; four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the third and subsequent offenses.
B. In addition to such fine, the owner shall be fined an additional amount equal to the costs charged by the Department of Public Works to secure the property plus any material costs.
(5) Zoning Violations. For all zoning violations, the Municipal Court may impose a fine of between ten dollars ($10.00) and five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus costs incurred.
(6) MS4 Stormwater/Illicit Discharge Violations. Any owner cited with a violation of MS4 Stormwater/Illicit Discharge shall be subject to a penalty consisting of costs incurred plus such penalties as set forth in Article 920 of the Codified Ordinances.
(7) Combination Penalties. An owner may be subject to multiple violations.
(8) General Citation Fees. For violations not otherwise identified herein, the Municipal Court may impose a fine of between ten dollars ($10.00) and five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus costs incurred.
(b) Pursuant to Section 1-6.3 of the Property Maintenance Standards, the code official shall file a citation against the owner when the owner has failed to remedy the notice of violation within the time set forth therein and after the time for appeal has expired.
(c) All fines set forth herein shall be issued by the Municipal Court. The Municipal Court may additionally impose court costs on all violations described herein.
(d) All fines set forth herein shall be a debt personally owed by the owner and shall be a lien upon the real estate that is the subject of the citation.
(Ord. 23-14. Passed 6-1-23.)