(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND. A contiguous area of real property under the same ownership, whether platted or unplatted. For the purposes of this section, the terms LOT and PARCEL OF LAND are interchangeable and inclusive of any abutting public rights-of-way.
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES.
Grasses commonly used in planned landscape areas and beds, including miscanthus, maidengrass and sedge grasses, and not intended to be used as a ground cover, and consuming 10% or less of the total lawn area.
TURF GRASSES.
Grasses commonly used in lawn areas, including but not limited to any bluegrass, ryegrass, zoysia and fescues, and including any weeds or other volunteer plants within a lawn area that are commonly classified as a lawn weed and not customarily or intentionally planted, including, but not limited to foxtail, crabgrass, clover, dandelion, chickweed, honeysuckle, pigweed, ragweed, thistlestitch, and plantain.
(B) The owner, occupant, or person having charge or management of every lot or parcel of land within the city upon which a tree, plant, or shrubbery stands with any part thereof upon or overhanging a public street or sidewalk shall conform to regulations mentioned below, otherwise the city shall cause the trees to be trimmed or cut down in accord with these regulations, and assess the cost against the owner of the lot or parcel of land.
(1) The owner, occupant, or person having charge or management shall trim or cause to be trimmed the tree, plant, or shrubbery so that a clear height of eight feet between the lower branches of the same and the street or sidewalk is maintained.
(2) The owner, occupant, or person having charge or management shall trim or remove every dead, decayed, or broken tree, plant, or shrubbery, or part thereof, so that the same shall not fall to the street or sidewalk.
(3) The owner, occupant, or person having charge or management shall cut down and remove any tree, plant, or shrubbery, or any part thereof, as may be necessary to provide a clear and unobstructed view of traffic from all directions at any street intersection, or to abate any nuisance necessary to protect pedestrians using the street or sidewalk.
(C) The owner, occupant, or person having charge or management of any lot or parcel of land within the city, whether it is improved or unimproved, vacant or occupied, shall:
(1) Cut or destroy or cause to be cut or destroyed any offensive, noxious, or poisonous weeds, vines, or turf grasses growing upon any lot or parcel of land, and prevent them from blooming or going to seed or exceeding a height of seven inches.
(2) To ensure the safety of all persons from the danger of hidden tools, implements, holes, or other hazards, including fire hazards, all turf grasses, regardless of their character, shall be kept to a height of seven inches or less.
(3) Stumps. Trees located in the front yard or any yard adjacent to a street, and that have been cut down or are substantially damaged due to wind or other causes, must have their stumps either removed from the ground or cut to a height not to exceed seven inches above grade.
(D) Abutting right-of-way. The owner, occupant or any other person or entity having charge of land abutting a public right-of-way shall cut down all weeds and grass more than seven inches in height from any unpaved portions of the right-of-way abutting the land and shall remove the cutting from the right-of-way. Such cuttings shall not be swept or blown into the street, into storm drains or basins, or onto adjacent properties. For the purpose of this section, the owner, occupant, or any other person or entity having charge of land abutting a public right-of-way shall be deemed to have charge of that half of the right-of-way on the side of his or her land.
(Ord. 21-1961, passed 10-3-61; Am. Ord. 29-1984, passed 9-4-84; Am. Ord. 18-2004, passed 7-26-04; Am. Ord. 38-2007, passed 12-17-07; Am. Ord. 20-2019, passed 7-1-19)