(A) Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“CODE OFFICIAL.” The City Department Director responsible for overseeing the Environmental Code Enforcement Inspectors.
“INVASIVE SPECIES.” Includes common ragweed, giant ragweed, musk (nodding) thistle, Canadian thistle, perennial sowthistle, sorghum almum, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, purple lossestrife, Johnsongrass, kudzu, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, running bamboo.
“PARKWAY.” The area between the street-line and sidewalk.
“PROPERTY.” Includes private property and any adjoining parkway.
“PUBLIC NUISANCE.” Any act, thing, occupation, condition or use of property which shall continue for such length of time as to:
(a) Injure or endanger the comfort, health or safety of the public.
(b) Create an open and obvious hazard or attractive nuisance.
(c) Unlawfully and substantially interfere with, obstruct, or tend to obstruct or render dangerous for passage any street, public property, highway, navigable body of water or other public way.
“VEGETATION.” Includes all of the plants or plant life on property or in a certain area of property.
(B) The following shall be considered a public nuisance:
(1) Carcasses of animals, offal and filth. To cause the carcass of any animal or any offal, filth, or similar substance to be collected or remain on any premises or place.
(2) Offensive premises. To allow any premises to become nauseous, foul, or offensive.
(3) Throwing offensive matter in watercourse or public place. To throw or deposit any offal or other offensive matter or the carcass of any animal in any watercourse, lake, pond, spring, well, or street, alley, public highway, or park.
(4) Offensive or injurious cellars, vaults, and privies. To allow any cellar, vault, drain, privy, yard or premises to become foul, offensive, or injurious to public health.
(5) Putrid animal or vegetable matter. To deposit or permit to remain on any premises or public street or alley, slops, animal or vegetable matter of any kind which is, or is likely to become, putrid or offensive.
(6) Foul or stagnant water. To permit foul or stagnant water to stand on any premises.
(7) Encroaching upon or obstructing streets and alleys. To encroach on or obstruct any street, alley, or public ground with any building, fence, or structure of any kind.
(8) Deposit of matter likely to become offensive. To deposit slops, animal, or vegetable matter of any kind which is likely to become putrid or offensive on any premises or public street or alley.
(9) Obstructing view at street intersections. To construct or maintain any sign, earth embankment, fence, hedge, tree, or shrub obstructing a clear view at any corner of a road or street intersection between points 20 feet back from the intersection of the roadways to the corner, and 14 feet above the crown of each intersecting roadway.
(64' Code, § 22-25)
(10) Accumulation of garbage, trash, rubbish on property. To cause, allow or maintain the accumulation of garbage, trash, rubbish, litter, ashes, refuse, solid waste or debris on property or placed in the public way.
(11) Garbage containers. To allow for use garbage or refuse containers that are not in compliance with Chapter 52 or Chapter 93, or to use garbage or refuse containers in a manner which is not consistent with or in compliance with Chapter 52 or Chapter 93.
(12) Vegetation. To allow vegetation, trees or shrubs on property to become unkempt or untrimmed.
(13) The pollution of any public well or cistern, stream, lake, canal or body of water by sewage, agricultural processing, food processing, industrial wastes, or other similar substances.
(14) Trash containers or trash container stands located on property in violation of Chapter 52.
(15) The keeping or accumulation outdoors of abandoned, discarded, dilapidated, or broken objects, materials, supplies or equipment, building or landscaping materials, machine or engine parts, shopping carts, appliances, tires, furniture not designed for outdoor use, boxes or containers, the exterior display of tarps, plastic sheeting or other similar materials as flexible or inflexible screening, fencing, roof or wall covering, or similar materials regardless of condition which is visible beyond the boundaries of the property. Certain materials may be stored consistent with and in compliance with Chapters 151, 152, 153 and 154.
(16) The placement outdoors on property of one or more dumpsters, roll-away containers or other similar refuse containers for more than 60 consecutive days, except during periods of continuous demolition or construction activities on the premises where the container is placed. Demolition or construction activities shall be deemed continuous for the purpose of this provision if they are not interrupted for more than 14 consecutive days.
(17) Structures that are vacant and open to entry such that they are an attractive nuisance.
('64 Code, § 22-35)
Statutory reference:
Powers of city to define and abate nuisance, see ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5, § 11-60-2
(18) The nuisances set forth above shall not be deemed to be exclusive.
('64 Code, § 22-36)
(C) No person shall erect, contrive, cause, continue, maintain or permit to exist or continue any public nuisance within the city.
(D) Every owner shall maintain his or her property so as to prevent the growth or accumulation of:
(1) Litter, garbage, trash, rubbish;
(2) Invasive species;
(3) Vegetation or shrubs which prevent the free and unobstructed travel of pedestrians upon sidewalks, or vehicles on streets and alleys, or otherwise negatively affects traffic or pedestrian safety, including impairing the visibility or passage of pedestrians or vehicles;
(4) Vegetation or shrubs which harbor or aid in harboring of rats, dangerous snakes, vermin, or insects;
(5) Vegetation or shrubs which are otherwise prohibited by law, including but not limited to noxious weeds prohibited by the state noxious weed law;
(6) Trees or shrubs which are planted in the parkway without a permit issued by the Director of Urban Services;
(7) Vegetation, trees, or shrubs which are lower than eight feet over sidewalks or lower than 14 feet over streets or alleys.
(Am. Ord. 9042, passed 4-5-16; Am. Ord. 9089, passed 4-18-17; Am. Ord. 9141, passed 3-6-18)