The existence of any of the following conditions on any lot or parcel of land within the zoning jurisdiction of the city is hereby declared to be unlawful and a violation of the provisions of this subchapter, unless it is a permitted use in accordance with this subchapter:
(A) Weeds, grass and other debris. The uncontrolled growth of noxious weeds, grass, bushes, hedges or any growing material in excess of 12 inches, causing or threatening to cause a hazard detrimental to the public health and safety. This section is to be enforced as to any property located within 200 feet of any road or highway right-of-way or within 200 feet of any residential property;
(B) Corner visibility. On corner lots, no obstructions of any kind or nature to the visibility of vehicles on streets at intersections shall be erected, maintained or allowed to exist. This area, corner triangle, of visibility shall not be more than two feet higher than the street or curb level and not less than ten feet from the property corner. (Note: this also applies to any shrub, bush, hedge and/or vine within the “corner triangle” on a person’s property that violates said requirement. In addition, any tree and/or tree branches that encroach with a “corner triangle” shall have its branches trimmed to a height no less than eight feet above ground level.);
(C) Dead trees and/or limbs. The lack of removal of dead trees and/or limbs that are causing or threatening to cause a hazard detrimental to the public health and safety. REMOVAL, herein, means the cutting down of a dead tree to a stump sufficiently short as not to pose a falling hazard and the cutting/removal of a dead limb from an otherwise live tree;
(D) Placement, storage or accumulation of any junked and/or abandoned vehicle. For the purposes hereof, any automobile which is partially dismantled or wrecked; or cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it was originally intended to move, or is more than five years old or does not display a current license plate shall be considered junk, as authorized and defined in G.S. § 160A-303.2. It shall be unlawful for any person to store or place, or cause to be stored or placed, a junked vehicle on the streets, sidewalks or on any other property either public or private, except in an enclosed structure with a roof thereon;
(E) Detached or accessory building. Any deteriorated and/or dilapidated detached accessory building;
(F) Fence or retaining wall. Any fence, retaining wall or similar landscape features that are not firmly anchored to the ground, maintained in good structural condition and appearance or free of deterioration. Wooden or other fence features subject to deterioration or weathering shall be properly maintained to retard deterioration or provide protection from the weather. Deteriorated features shall be replaced or repaired, or completely removed;
(G) Firewood storage. Firewood that is stored, stacked and/or placed in excess of a total area of 100 square feet and/or stored, placed or stacked to a height more than six feet above ground level;
(H) Storage of building materials. Building materials shall be stored in a completely enclosed building when stored on a lot where construction has stopped or never commenced for a period of one year and there is not a current, valid, outstanding building permit issued for construction on the same lot;
(I) Placement and/or storage of construction fill materials. Unless such materials are:
(1) Stored in a level, safe manner;
(2) Placed in gently sloped mounds for a period of time not to exceed one year; or
(3) Approved by the Zoning Administrator or his or her designee as a reasonable landscape feature evidenced by a comprehensive landscape plan showing such features for legitimate landscape purposes as part of the total development of the lot.
(J) Vacant buildings. All vacant buildings shall be maintained/secured, so as to discourage unlawful entry and/or vagrancy. Securing/boarding up of exterior windows and/or doors of vacant buildings from the outside shall not exceed six months. Property owners shall be notified a minimum of 30 days prior to charging a property with this violation;
Editor’s note:
There is no time frame for securing/boarding up said areas of a vacant building from the inside where the use of interior curtains, blinds and/or shades will obscure same from exterior visibility and all window and/or door glass is intact
(K) Animal, vegetable accumulations. Any accumulation of animal or vegetable matter that is offensive by virtue of odors or vapors or by the inhabitancy therein of rats, mice, snakes or vermin or any kind which is or may be dangerous or prejudicial to the public health;
(L) Fire hazard, stagnant water, rodent infestation. Any accumulation of rubbish, trash or junk causing or threatening to cause a fire hazard, or causing or threatening to cause the accumulation of stagnant water, or causing or threatening to cause the inhabitation therein of rats, mice, snakes or vermin of any kind which is or may be dangerous or prejudicial to the public health;
(M) Obstructing drainage ditch. Any natural growth or human-made obstruction of or impediment of the natural flow of water in any drainage ditch within the city with dirt, trash, debris or any other matter or substance or by undersize culvert or other construction serving the purpose of a culvert;
(N) Draining offensive fluid. Any drainage into any stream or watercourse, carrying off water or fluid from any kitchen sink, bathtub, washing machine or like household or commercial appliance, carrying off and draining into said stream or watercourse any fluid of an offensive, noxious or dangerous nature regardless of the source or origin thereof, or the drainage or depositing of any substance in a stream or watercourse which may, in any way, poison or contaminate the water therein;
(O) Visible address. All buildings that are habitable and/or generally open to the public, shall have the applicable address numbers/letters placed on the building so as to be visible from the street. Accessory use buildings on the same property are exempt from this requirement;
(P) Obscene materials and graffiti. Obscene materials and/or graffiti visible in open places; and
(Q) Other conditions detrimental to public health. Any condition detrimental to the public health that violates the rules and regulations of the county’s Health Department.
(2005 Code, § 42-85) (Ord. passed 7-7-1980; Ord. passed 5-6-1985; Ord. passed 7-27-1998; Ord. passed 5-3-1999; Ord. 2012-15, passed 7-23-2012; Ord. 2012-18, passed 7-23-2012) Penalty, see § 95.99