The following duties and responsibilities are hereby imposed upon every owner and operator of any building covered by the provisions of this Code:
(a) The exterior of the premises and all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances and any hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and persons utilizing the premises, and free of unsanitary conditions, and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner or operator. The items prohibited hereby shall include, but not be limited to, brush, weeds, broken glass, stump roots, obnoxious growth, filth, garbage, trash, refuse, debris, dead and dying trees and limbs or other natural growth, loose and overhanging objects and ground surface hazards. All premises shall have approved receptacles, approved incinerators or other conveniences for the disposal of rubbish, garbage, refuse or other waste matter. The owner or operator, or his or her agent, shall provide suitable screening to cause any and all receptacles for the disposal of rubbish, garbage, refuse or other waste matter to be not visible from ground level to those residents living in residential areas abutting the commercial property from that property.
(Ord. 68-1986. Passed 5-5-86.)
(b) Foundation walls shall be kept structurally sound, free from defects and damage, and capable of bearing imposed loads safely.
(c) Chimneys and all flue and vent attachments thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, free from defects and so maintained as to capably perform at all times the functions for which they were designed. Chimneys, flues, gas vents or other draft equipment shall provide sufficient draft to develop the rated output of the connected equipment and shall be structurally safe, durable, smoke-tight and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(d) Exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs and fire escapes shall be provided with banisters or railings properly designed and maintained to minimize the hazard of falling, and the same shall be kept structurally sound, in good repair and free from defects.
(e) The exterior of the premises and the conditions of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with standards of the neighborhood.
(f) Premises shall be kept landscaped. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed, and driveways and parking areas shall be kept dust free.
(g) All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view and permitted by reason of other ordinances or laws shall be maintained in good repair. Signs which have weathered or faded excessively, and those upon which the paint has peeled or cracked excessively, shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair by the owner of the sign.
(h) All windows or store fronts constructed of plate glass shall be kept clean and free of cracks, holes or missing panes, and no storage shall be permitted therein unless shielded from public view. No person shall utilize plywood, blankets, sheets, newspaper or similar material not intended or designed as window treatments as permanent window coverings. Temporary coverings of uniform material and color securely installed or attached to the inside of the windows shall be allowed for no more than 30 days..
(i) All store fronts shall be kept in good repair, painted where required, and not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. In the event repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same materials used in the construction of the store front, or with similar or compatible materials, in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area or areas. Any cornice visible above a store front shall be kept painted, where required, and in good repair.
(j) Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of a premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. In the event such awning or marquee is not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, it shall, together with its supporting members, be removed forthwith. In the event such awning or marquee is made of cloth, plastic or similar materials, such cloth, plastic or similar materials, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of excessive weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
(k) For purposes of preservation and appearance, the exterior of every structure or accessory structure shall be kept in good repair and painted. All surfaces shall be maintained free from broken glass, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick, excessive paint peeling or any other condition reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance.
(l) Restrooms shall be surfaced with waterproof floors such as ceramic tiles or asphalt tile and shall be kept dry, clean and sanitary at all times. Sufficient restrooms shall be installed and maintained for each sex commensurate with the use of the premises. Every restroom shall be provided with a permanently installed artificial lighting fixture, and a wall switch therefor which is free from danger of short circuiting.
(m) All premises shall be properly connected to and provided with electric power. All such connections and electrical equipment shall be installed and maintained in conformity with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and other applicable standards of the City.
(n) Maximum fuse sizes consistent with safety shall be posted conspicuously and no fuse shall be installed in a fuse box in excess of the stated maximum, except that owners and operators shall not be responsible for violations in fuse installations without their knowledge where the correct maximum is stated and the fuse box is located within any part of the premises which is in the exclusive possession of occupants other than the owner or operator, in which case such occupant shall be responsible for such violations.
(o) Any driveways which abut a residential area shall be covered with a hard surface of asphalt or concrete.
(Ord. 68-1979. Passed 3-5-79; Ord. 15-2009. Passed 2-2-09.)