Unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning under local, state or federal building codes and/or ordinances, regulations and/or guidelines, it shall be unlawful for any person to maintain junk, debris or a nuisance, or permit any condition or thing which is liable to cause injury to any person or property to remain in the city.
(A) Exterior building maintenance, construction and alteration standards. All properties, which have been so poorly maintained that their physical condition and unsightly appearance detract from the surrounding neighborhood(s), are declared public nuisances. Furthermore, properties are considered public nuisances if they fail to comply with the required building exterior maintenance, construction and alteration standards, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Every exterior surface, which has had a surface finish such as paint applied, shall be maintained to avoid noticeable deterioration to the finish and shall be free of peeling, cracked, chipped or otherwise deteriorated surface finish on less than 25% of:
(a) Any one wall or other flat surface; or
(b) All doors, windows, door and window moldings, fascia, soffit, eaves, gutters and similar projections on any one side or surface.
(2) All parts of any exterior surface shall be free from deterioration, holes, breaks, gaps, loose or rotting boards, timbers or other surfaces.
(3) All exterior glass, including windows and exterior light fixtures, shall not be broken and screens shall not be separated from moldings. All exterior glass that is cracked shall not be taped as that presents a potential safety hazard.
(4) All exterior doors and shutters shall be hung properly and securely, with an operable mechanism to keep them securely shut or in place.
(5) All exterior cornices, moldings, lintels, sills, bay or dormer windows, signage and similar projections shall be kept in good repair and free from cracks and defects which make them hazardous or unsightly.
(6) All exterior foundations, walls and roof shall be substantially water-tight and protected against vermin, rodents, rains and other elements and shall be kept in sound condition and repair.
(7) All exterior decks, staircases, porches, fences, chimneys, antennae, air vents and other similar projections shall be:
(a) Structurally sound, in good repair, and shall be secured properly, where applicable, to an exterior wall or exterior roof, including, but not limited to, roof drainage systems;
(b) Firmly fastened and maintained in good condition; and
(c) Free of rotting, loose or deteriorating supports.
(B) Non-building property maintenance standards. Unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning under local, state or federal guidelines, non-building property maintenance standards shall apply, including but not limited to the following:
(1) All properties containing temporary construction fencing, including, but not limited to, erosion control hay bales, fabric and plastic, shall not be used in lieu of permanent fencing when installed on construction sites and shall be removed following elimination of hazards or completion of construction projects.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 153.178, all properties containing signage or other exterior visual displays in plain sight of a public roadway or walkway, whether temporary or permanent, shall be professional looking and shall not portray graffiti and/or an unsightly appearance or detract from customary signage in surrounding neighborhood(s).
(3) All properties shall be free from the accumulation of nuisances and debris, including, but not limited to, boxes, lumber, scrap metal, building materials, structures, fixtures, equipment, natural features, fences, amenities, parking lots, driveways, stumps, trees, bushes, compost piles and related premises or other materials in such a manner which may provide home to a rodent harborage, accumulate any materials which may serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents, or are considered to be an unsightly appearance that may detract from surrounding neighbors and/or neighborhoods.
(4) All properties containing stored materials, including junk, debris and nuisances, shall be stored in a building, stacked neatly and safely in piles, or fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoining or adjacent lands.
(5) All property owners shall be responsible for the removal or maintenance of safety hazards, including but not limited to: snow, ice, weeds and other accumulated junk, debris and nuisances from parking lots, driveways, steps and walkways on the properties pursuant to the city ordinance so as to avoid potential injuries and obstructions to the public.
(6) It is the primary responsibility of any owner or occupant of any lot or parcel of land to maintain any weeds or grass growing thereon at a height of not more than eight inches; to remove all public health or safety hazards, junk, debris and nuisances therefrom; to install or repair water service lines thereon; to keep creeks and rivers free from debris that may cause flooding and/or damage to other property owners along the waterway; and to treat or remove insect-infested or diseased trees and/or vegetation thereon.
(Ord. 113, passed 3-11-2014) Penalty, see § 10.99