Maintenance and appearance standards shall be as follows:
(A) The owner and operator of all properties governed by the code shall maintain the exterior of the premises in such a manner to conform with all city codes and ordinances; avoid blighting influences on neighboring properties, and avoid the creation of hazards to public health, safety and welfare. Such maintenance and appearance will be judged by the following standards:
(1) The exterior of all premises and every structure thereon, including all parts of the structure and appurtenance where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of deterioration, weathering, discoloration, rust, ripping, tearing or other holes or breaks. All screened enclosures shall contain screens that shall be properly fitted and maintained. All other surfaces shall be maintained free of broken glass, crumbling stone, brick or stucco, or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance.
(2) All surfaces requiring painting or which are otherwise protected from the elements shall be kept painted or protected. Painted surfaces shall be maintained free of graffiti, in accordance with § 132.01 of this Code and the City Zoning and Land Development Regulations, and with uniform colors void of any evidence of deterioration.
(3) All off-street parking spaces shall be paved with asphalt or constructed of concrete or block and shall be of smooth surface and in good repair in compliance with city codes; provided however, that off-street parking spaces surfaced with gravel in existence prior to the enactment of this division (A)(3) shall not be precluded so long as the owner of such off-street parking spaces maintains the public right-of-way free from loose gravel. In the event an owner of property containing off-street parking spaces surfaced with gravel makes repairs to such property pursuant to the requirements of Article 6 of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations for Site Plan, then all off-street parking spaces of such property must come into compliance at that time with the first clause of this division (A)(3).
(4) Any property that has been damaged by fire or natural catastrophe must be repaired so as to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) All materials used to board and secure vacant property must be painted so as to approximate the color of the original structure.
(6) All occupied structures must have windows and doors in good working condition and free of boards, broken or missing glass, windows, or jalousies.
(B) Property failing to meet the standards in division (A) above, will be considered “deficient”. A blighting influence on the surrounding neighborhood in violation of this code exists when a deficiency or combination of deficiencies represents more than 25% of the area of any wall or roof or paved surface as viewed from any single vantage point off the property.
(C) (1) Multiple colors, including trim, may not be used except to accent architectural features of the structure, unless approved by the Department of Planning and Development Services when it is found that the colors are generally consistent with the color chart set forth in the city’s design guidelines, and compatible with other single family homes in the neighborhood.
(2) An appeal by an applicant from an adverse decision by the Department of Planning and Development Services made pursuant to division (C)(1) above, shall be made to the City Commission and must be filed within ten days of the date of such decision on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Development Services.
(D) Except as herein provided, live vegetative material shall provide complete coverage of the entire yard and swale area exposed to public view. Height shall conform with all applicable city ordinances. Play areas, gardens, flower beds, unpaved driveways, walks, and the like, not intended to have vegetative cover should be clearly defined and maintained free of uncultivated growth. Xeriscaping is encouraged and shall be maintained in accordance with principles contained in the City of Hollywood Landscape Manual. Property not meeting these standards will be considered deficient. A blighting influence on the surrounding neighborhood in violation of this section will exist if more than 33% of the yard or swale area visible from any single vantage point off the property is deficient. Dead trees, limbs, hedges, shrubs or plantings shall be removed from the property after obtaining the necessary permits and in accordance with the requirements contained in Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances. Any tree determined by appropriate city staff to be hazardous, unsafe, or infested must be removed from the property after obtaining the necessary permits and according to the requirements of Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances.
(E) Bushes, hedges and similar landscaping components exposed to public view shall form a compact, dense, visually opaque, living barrier free from visible evidence of disease, infestation, damage, deterioration, neglect or other visually unappealing condition and shall be kept reasonably pruned and neatly trimmed at all times. The owner of property where any tree, hedge, bush or planting is rooted shall bear responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of said tree, hedge, bush or planting and for maintenance and upkeep of any tree, hedge, bush or planting located within the swale area abutting the property.
(F) Premises having been recognized by the appropriate authority as employing environmentally friendly gardening and landscaping practices or as a habitat for native plants or animals shall be exempted from the requirements contained in division (E) above to keep landscaping trimmed.
(‘72 Code, § 15-4(a)E.) (Ord. O-81-78, passed 11-4-81; Am. Ord. O-89-53, passed 9-6-89; Am. Ord. O-90-52, passed 11-7-90; Am. Ord. O-96-22, passed 7-3-96; Am. Ord. O-2000-32, passed 9-20-00; Am. Ord. O-2001-23, passed 6-30-01; Am. Ord. O-2011-05, passed 2-2-11; Am. Ord. O- 2011-15, passed 5-4-11)