(A) Sanitation. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The occupant shall keep that part of the exterior property which such occupant occupies or controls in a clean and sanitary condition.
(B) 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. Exception: approved detention/retention areas, basins and reservoirs.
(1) Removal of vegetation: replacement. Any person removing vegetation from any real estate in the city shall reseed, re-sod or re-vegetate the same within three months from the date of removal unless a building/construction permit or erosion prevention and sediment control permit is received from the appropriate city department. Exception: customary use of real estate for agricultural and/or horticultural use.
(2) Discharge of runoff or groundwater to sanitary sewer. No person shall make connection of roof drains, exterior fountain drains, area-way drains, other sources of runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
(3) Drainage way maintenance. The owner of the premises shall maintain all drainage ways on the premises. This includes mowing and trimming of the drainage way and keeping the drainage way free from all obstructions. Obstructions shall include, but is not limited to, grass clippings, tree limbs or rubbish of any kind that alters, restricts or prohibits the drainage way from functioning in a proper manner.
(C) Sidewalks, public ways and driveways.
(1) General. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces, public ways and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair and maintained free from hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, periodically renewing, repaving or otherwise maintaining a smooth surface. The accumulation of snow and ice shall be considered a hazardous condition and should be removed in a timely manner as prescribed by other city ordinances.
(2) Obstructions. The owner or occupant shall keep all sidewalks, streets, alleys, driveways, public highway, public ways or railroad crossing clear and free of all obstructions. This shall include the placing, planting or locating of any planted material or changing the grade of the land that obstructs the view of oncoming traffic.
(D) Weeds and grass.
(1) General. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from grass, weeds or plant growth in excess of ten inches in height. This includes maintaining to the pavement or to the curb edge of any street, alley or roadway. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. WEEDS shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, ornamental grasses and gardens.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) A premises that is in excess of two acres and does not contain a dwelling unit then the grass, weeds and plant growth shall be maintained to a height not to exceed 36 inches;
(b) A premises that is used for agricultural purposes shall be maintained to a height commensurate with customary practice for agricultural uses; and
(c) A premises that is predominantly woodlands and trees and the same dominates the land and no crop or agricultural use is made at the premises.
(E) Rodent harborage. All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from rodent harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After pest elimination, proper precautions shall be taken to eliminate rodent harborage and prevent infestation.
(F) Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers shall not discharge gases, steam, 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.
(G) Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, sheds, gazebos, decks, fences and walls, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
(H) Inoperable vehicles. No vehicle shall be parked on any property or premises in the city which can be viewed from a public highway or street or from an adjoining property, which vehicle remains for a period of one week in the same relative location and which for mechanical or other reasons cannot be moved under its own power or which cannot be operated legally upon a public highway or street or which is unreasonably unsightly or which is not currently registered or which is an inoperable vehicle as defined in this chapter.
(1) Exception.
(a) A vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work; provided that, such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes; and
(b) A vehicle stored at the premises of a legally approved vehicle repair or salvage operation, that is a business enterprise in compliance with applicable zoning ordinance standards and in possession of a current city business license.
(2) Parking in a yard. The parking, locating or storing of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle shall not be allowed in any yard unless it is on a paved or gravel area designated for such use and in a safe manner. Exception: any type vehicle that is placed within an approved and fully enclosed structure.
(I) 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.
(J) Animals, fowl or reptiles. It shall a violation for any person to own, keep, harbor or possess any domestic or other animal of any nature, any fowl or reptile which becomes a public nuisance.
(1) Animal nuisance. For the purposes of this section, PUBLIC NUISANCE shall be defined as:
(a) Any dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile which barks, howls, whines, meows, screeches, hisses or makes any other unreasonable noise which becomes a disturbance to neighbors;
(b) Any dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile running at large; and
(c) Any dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile which damages or destroys any public or private, personal or real property.
(2) License. Any dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile must have a license as required by state law.
(3) Infectious disease. Any dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile shall have the appropriate rabies or other inoculation to prevent the dog, cat or other animal, fowl or reptile from contracting or spreading hydrophobia or other infectious disease.
(4) Slaughtering. It shall be prohibited to conduct or maintain any slaughter house or other premises or area for the slaughtering of animals, fowl or reptiles, or to render the byproducts of the same.
(K) Fire hydrant. The owner shall maintain the area around and adjacent to any fire hydrants on the premises and keep the area unobstructed for a minimum of three feet from the hydrant.
(L) Diseased or dead tree. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to remove any diseased or dead tree or portion thereof, which poses a hazard to life or property; or a tree which harbors insects that have caused decay of the tree and causes the tree to pose a hazard to life or property.
(Ord. 04-2017, passed 5-15-2017)