(A) Whoever, by his or her act or failure to perform a legal duty, intentionally does any of the following is guilty of maintaining a public nuisance, which is a misdemeanor:
(1) Maintains or permits a condition which unreasonably annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, morals, comfort or repose of any considerable number of members of the public;
(2) Interferes with, obstructs or renders dangerous for passage any public highway or right-of-way or waters used by the public; or
(3) Is guilty of any other act or omission declared by law or §§ 90.16, 90.17 or 90.18, or any other part of this code to be a public nuisance and for which no sentence is specifically provided.
(B) (1) It is hereby determined that the uses, structures and activities and cause of blight or blighting factors described herein, if allowed to exist, will tend to result in blighted and undesirable neighborhoods so as to be harmful to the public welfare, health and safety. The purpose of this division (B) is to protect the character and stability of the properties within the city and to avoid blight and blighted conditions. The owner and occupant shall comply with the regulations contained herein.
(2) (a) All exterior property areas and vacant areas shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, safe and free from any hazard or dangerous condition, and free from any accumulation of refuse or garbage.
(b) All exterior property areas and vacant areas shall be kept free from species of weeds or plant growth, rodents, vermin or other pests, which are noxious or detrimental to the public health. Any weeds or grasses growing upon any lot or parcel of land or boulevard abutting the land; within an area of the city zoned as a residential or commercial in which the weeds or grasses grow to a height greater than 12 inches, or which have gone or about to go to seed, are a nuisance. The owner or occupant shall abate or prevent the nuisance on the property, or on the boulevard abutting the property. (Excluded from grass height limits are all lake and river lots and any lots that are more than 50% forested throughout the entire lot.)
(c) Any junk automobile as defined hereinafter in this section constitutes a hazard to the welfare of the residents of the community in that such vehicles can harbor noxious diseases, furnish a shelter and breeding place for vermin and present physical danger to the safety and well-being of children and citizens, and automobiles containing fluids which, if released into the environment, can and do cause significant health risks. Any such junk automobile shall not be kept, parked, stored, or abandoned within the city.
1. For the purpose of this division (B)(2)(c), the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
JUNK AUTOMOBILES. Any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition, partially dismantled, used for repair of parts or as a source of repair or replacement parts for other vehicles, kept for scrapping, dismantling or salvage of any kind, or which is not properly licensed for operation with the state, pursuant to M.S. § 168B.011, Subd. 3, as it may be amended from time to time. This definition shall not apply to a motor vehicle enclosed in a building and/or kept out of view from any street, road, or alley, and which does not foster a complaint from a resident of the city.
JUNK EQUIPMENT. Equipment such as farm equipment and other machinery, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, snowblowers and all other machinery or equipment powered by a motor and shall include any part of machinery or equipment, stored in the open, which is not currently licensed for use upon the highways of the state or is not required to be so licensed, and is either:
i. Unusable or inoperable because of lack of or defects in component parts;
ii. Unusable or inoperable because of damage from collision, deterioration or having been cannibalized;
iii. Beyond repair and therefore not intended for future use as a motor vehicle; or
iv. Being retained on the property for possible use of salvageable parts.
2. These regulations are in addition to any zoning regulations.
(3) (a) The exterior of all structures and accessory structures, including detached garages, shall be maintained in a workman-like state of maintenance and repair.
(b) Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers, falling or loose stucco.
(c) All doors and windows shall be maintained in good repair, fit reasonably well within their frames and be free of open breaks or holes.
(4) (a) The interior of every structure shall be maintained in clean and sanitary condition, free of accumulations of garbage and refuse.
(b) The interior of every structure shall be maintained free from infestation of noxious insects, rodents and other pests.
(c) All plumbing systems shall be properly installed, connected and maintained in good working order and must be kept free from obstructions, leaks and defects.
(d) The storage of excessive or unreasonable amounts of hazardous, flammable liquids shall be prohibited in areas not zoned for such use.
(Ord. 187, passed - -; Am. Ord. passed 12-7-09) Penalty, see § 10.99