§ 676.01 LONG GRASS AND WEEDS.

   (a)   Prohibitions. It is unlawful for any owner , lessee or occupant , or any agent, servant, representative or employee of such owner , lessee or occupant having control of an occupied or vacant (two acres or less) lot or land , or any part thereof in the city in areas zoned as single-family, residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3), multiple family (HDMF and LDMF), two-family (R-T), commercial (OS, B-1, B-2, B-3) to permit the following:

      (1)   Permit or maintain on any such lot or land any growth or brush, grass, noxious weeds or other vegetation to a height greater than six inches or any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush; or

      (2)   Permit poison ivy, ragweed or other poisonous plants, or plants detrimental to health to grow on any such lot or land .

   (b)   Vacant land. Where any person is the owner of vacant land which is over two acres in size, or any property devoted to any use other than agriculture, the owner must cut back at least 50 feet from the property line that abuts a street and cut back 50 feet from any side and rear property lines that abut an occupied lot.

   (c)   Penalties.

      (1)   If the provisions of this section are not fully complied with, the city shall serve either personally, or by certified or regular mail, written notice upon the owner , lessee or occupant , or any person having the care or control of any such lot or land to comply with the provisions of this chapter. If the person upon whom the notice is served fails to cut and remove such weeds, grass or other vegetation within five days after the personal notice or the posting of certified mail, or if no owner can be found of such lot, the Department of Public Works Superintendent shall cause such weeds, grass and other vegetation to be removed and the actual cost of such cutting and removal plus an additional 50% of said cost shall be certified by the Department of Public Works Superintendent and shall become and be a lien upon the property on which such weeds, grass and other vegetation were located, and shall be assessed and collected in the same manner provided in the City Charter for collection of taxes.

      (2)   Should the owner , lessee, occupant , or any person having the care or control of such lot or land , and upon whom the notice of violation of this section is served, prevents the Department of Public Works employee or agent from cutting and/or removing such weeds, grass, or other vegetation, that person shall be responsible for a civil infraction and be ordered to pay a civil fine of $500 for each violation.

(Ord. 04-01, passed 5-25-2005; Ord. 2008-01, passed 8-12-2020)