(A) Sanitation. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition.
(B) Outside storage. Outside storage of articles including, but not limited to, equipment, construction materials, excess soil, garbage, rubbish, yard waste, recyclables, hazardous waste, items not designed for exterior use, and maintenance equipment shall not be allowed. A weather tight, rodent-proof storage building or shed must be constructed for storage of items not storable within the building. Storage containers including, but not limited to, trailers, semi trailers, cargo containers, PODS, and dumpsters, are not allowed as permanent storage structures. The use of these types of storage containers for temporary use, up to 60 consecutive days, is allowed by meeting all requirements of city code.
(C) Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil and to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any structure located thereon. Drainage from a property shall not adversely affect adjoining premises.
(D) Ground cover. All exposed ground area surrounding the principle structure and accessory structures, which are not devoted to driveways, parking areas, sidewalks, or patios, shall be sodded or landscaped with shrubs, trees, gardens, or other ornamental landscape materials. Ground cover areas shall be maintained free of weeds, trash, yard waste, garbage and outside storage. No landscaped area shall be used for the parking of automobiles, trucks, sport utility vehicles, buses, vans, trailers, campers, motor-homes, boats, motorcycles, personal watercraft, motorized construction equipment, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, and agricultural tractors/equipment or the storage or display of materials, supplies or merchandise. Materials used for landscaping, including but not limited to, stone, brick, wood, edging materials, plastic, weed barriers shall be maintained. Damaged or deteriorated materials shall be repaired or replaced.
(E) Slopes and berms. Final grades with a slope ratio of greater than three to one will not be permitted without special approved treatment such as special ground covers or reforestation, terracing, or retaining walls. Berating used to provide required screening of parking lots and other open areas shall not have slopes in excess of three to one.
(F) Trees and weeds. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained free from diseased, dead and hazardous trees, noxious weeds, and long grass per Chapter 4, Article II of city code herein adopted by reference, and this code.
(G) Maintenance. All diseased, dead, and hazardous trees, shrubs, ground covers, and sod shall be removed and/or replaced in accordance with this code. All trees, or other vegetation, which spring up in crevices by foundations and along walls and fences, must be promptly removed to avoid structural damage. Tall weeds or grass shall not be allowed to grow to a height greater than allowed in Chapter 4, Article II of city code. Inspectors may grant an exception for wildlife areas, areas bordering ponds, wildflower areas, ornamental grasses, other such areas that are part of an orderly landscape, and other vegetation as the Council shall, from time to time designate by resolution. These exceptions shall be maintained weed free and confined to the designated area. Orderly landscape areas do not include yard/lawn areas that are sodded where other types of vegetation are allowed to freely grow in it.
(H) Tree stumps. All tree stumps shall be removed to four inches below the surface of the ground, including root extensions. Stump debris shall be removed and the hole filled in to match the surrounding area. Stumps that are to be used for other purposes including, but not limited to, art, furniture, and landscaping shall be separated from the root system. The remaining stump/roots shall be removed as outlined above.
(I) Fire wood. The accumulation of twigs, branches, leaves, and trunk sections are not allowed. Firewood is allowed if it is cut to fireplace length/split, neatly stacked in rear yards only, and is placed in an area that does not promote rodent harborage or the deterioration of adjacent surfaces and does not adversely affect adjoining premises. No more than 400 cubic feet of stored firewood allowed per premises.
(J) Placement of plant materials. No landscaping shall be allowed within any drainage utility easements, road right-of-way, or immediately adjacent to any driveway or road intersection if such landscaping would interfere with a motorist's view of the street or roadway or with the use of the easement for its intended purpose.
(K) Sidewalks, parking, and driveways. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and maintained free from hazardous conditions. Hazardous conditions include, but are not limited to, the accumulation of snow, ice and debris, deteriorated, broken, uneven and missing pavement and the growth of vegetation in cracks and crevices. All off-street parking areas, all driveways leading to such parking areas and all other areas upon which vehicles may be located shall be hard surfaced and shall conform to Chapter 9, Section I of city code. Driveway and parking areas that are currently hard surfaced, but do not meet all of the current requirements, can maintain the legal nonconforming driveway and parking areas until such time as the hard surface is damaged, deteriorated, or replaced. At which time driveway and parking areas shall be reconstructed to the current requirements of Chapter 9, Section I of city code. Premises that have handicap accessible parking shall maintain the required handicap parking per the State Building Code.
(L) Infestation. All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from insect, bird and rodent infestation. All structures in which insects, birds or rodents are found shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent re-infestation. No owner or occupant of a premises shall accumulate or permit the accumulation of any materials in such a manner that may provide insect, bird and rodent harborage, or serve as food for same, in or about structures or premises.
(M) Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers shall not discharge gases, steam, water, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous or particulate wastes directly upon abutting or adjacent public or private property or that of another tenant.
(N) Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, storage buildings and sheds, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair per § 5A.203.
(O) Fences, free standing walls, and retaining walls. All fences, free standing walls, and retaining walls shall be constructed and regulated in accordance with Chapter 6, Article IV of the city code and maintained per § 5A.203.
(P) Junk vehicles and abandoned motor vehicles. Junk vehicles and abandoned motor vehicles shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 7, Article II of city code incorporated herein. Vehicles that are inoperative and are awaiting repairs on the premises of an approved repair or body shop occupancy or their storage areas may be inoperative up to seven days. Junk or abandoned vehicles that are taken, or impounded, due to a legal process may be stored on a premises that meets city zoning for this type of storage, for up to two weeks after the legal holding time or process is complete. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth. A vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including bodywork, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such occupancy through the Minnesota State Building Code, Minnesota State Fire Code and meeting city zoning regulations.
(Q) Defacement of property. No person shall willfully or wantonly damage, mutilate or deface any exterior surface of any structure or building on any private or public property by placing thereon any marking, carving or graffiti. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore said surface to an approved state of maintenance and repair per § 8.204(S) of city code.
(R) Swimming pools. Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, including all required fencing and safety features, shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and in good repair. Swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs shall conform to Chapter 6, Article V of the city code incorporated herein by reference.
(S) Pets. Exterior of premises where animals are allowed to roam, including caged areas and pens, shall be maintained free of an accumulation of animal waste, bedding materials and food that would attract insects, rodents, or any other vermin and cause an odor that would adversely affect adjoining properties.
(Ord. 1532, passed 11-26-07) Penalty, see § 5A.602