(A) Motor vehicles.
(1) Inoperable vehicle. It is a public nuisance to keep or store any inoperable vehicle on public or private property unless said motor vehicle is:
(a) Kept within an enclosed building; or
(b) Is stored or kept on premises properly zoned for and engaged in the business of wrecking or junking motor vehicles or an approved vehicle repair use as defined in the Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 151, §§ 151.001 through 151.285).
(2) Hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle. It is a public nuisance to proliferate a hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle, whether on public or private property, in view of the public.
(B) Junk and debris. It is a public nuisance to keep or store junk and debris on public or private property, except in a state-permitted landfill or on premises properly zoned for, and engaged in the business of, a junk yard. Excluded from this provision are the following:
(1) Landscape waste generated on-site and stored in a designated enclosure or area shall not be considered junk and debris when all of the following restrictions are met.
(a) No landscape waste pile shall exceed four feet in height nor shall exceed 100 square feet in area. More than one pile shall be permitted if necessary to accommodate storage.
(b) Any landscape waste pile shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from any existing structure on any adjoining parcel, not including storage structures such as garages or sheds.
(C) High grass and/or weeds. It is a public nuisance to fail to maintain a property free from grass and/or weed growth in excess of ten inches in height within platted subdivisions. Excluded from this provision are the following:
(1) Areas preserved within an open space easement or plat-designated natural area;
(2) Plant growth that, in the opinion of the Enforcement Officer, enhances, protects, restores or otherwise supports an identified natural resource; and
(3) Plant growth within the tree-line of a natural wooded area.
(D) Disruption of a ditch or natural drain/ standing water. It is a public nuisance to disrupt, disturb or interfere with any ditches or natural drains across land in such a manner that such ditches or natural drains shall fill or become obstructed with any matter which materially impedes or interferes with the flow of water or redirects water onto another’s property, except as otherwise authorized by law, or to otherwise create or permit the continued existence of a condition of standing water where the standing water may facilitate or encourage the breeding of mosquitoes.
(E) Storage of construction materials. It is a public nuisance to store lumber or other building materials, construction vehicles, and/or construction equipment, not in connection with a permitted building project in progress on the property.
(F) Graffiti. It is a public nuisance for any person to place graffiti on any property or for any person having control of any property to allow, permit, or otherwise tolerate graffiti to be placed on or to remain on that property.
(G) Accumulation of rubbish, garbage or refuse. It is a public nuisance to allow accumulation of rubbish, garbage, or refuse on any property.
(H) Burning rubbish, garbage, refuse, or construction debris. It is a public nuisance to burn rubbish, garbage, refuse, or construction debris on any property.
(I) Open burning of landscape waste. It is a public nuisance to conduct open burning of landscape waste in the unincorporated area, subject to the following exceptions:
(1) This division (I) shall not apply to:
(a) Recreational fires, campfires, self-contained outdoor burn devices, and ceremonial fires if no garbage, junk and debris, or non-woody landscape waste are burned in such fires.
(b) Prescribed habitat and ecological landscape burns.
(c) Disposal of disaster debris as authorized by county authorities.
(2) This division (I) shall not apply to the open burning of woody landscape waste when all of the following restrictions are met:
(a) The burning occurs between November 1 to March 31;
(b) The burning occurs between sunrise and sunset;
(c) The burning occurs when wind speeds do no exceed ten miles per hour (MPH);
(d) The burning occurs on a day during which Lake County is not subject to an advisory from the National Weather Service regarding critical fire weather conditions nor an air quality advisory from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency wherein air quality in Lake County is designated as unhealthy for sensitive groups or the general public;
COMMENTARY: Critical fire weather conditions means conditions related to a combination of wind high temperatures and low humidity leading to an increased risk of erratic or extreme fire behavior and new fire starts or similar circumstances as determined by the National Weather Service as referenced in www.weather.gov. |
COMMENTARY: The Air Quality Index was devised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to communicate air quality conditions to the public. The Air Quality Index is available at www.airnow.gov. |
(e) The burning occurs on the premises where the woody materials were generated;
(f) The burning is supervised until the fire is extinguished. A fire extinguisher or garden hose or water source shall be available at the burning site;
(g) Reserved.
(h) The burning, if located within the Designated High School Area, is conducted between sunrise and sunset only on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
(J) On-site wastewater disposal system. It is a public nuisance to maintain and/or operate an on-site wastewater disposal system in a condition that the Health Officer determines is detrimental or potentially detrimental to the health and/or safety of the inhabitants of Lake County, Illinois, including, but not limited to, a cracked/damaged septic tank riser or cover or an exposed drop/distribution box, failure to properly supply, operate or maintain the disinfecting component of a surface discharge onsite wastewater disposal system, or failure to provide required reports of inspection and/or management activities of an onsite wastewater disposal system or system component.
(K) Water well. It is a public nuisance to maintain and/or operate a water well in a condition that the Health Officer determines is detrimental or potentially detrimental to the health and/or safety of the inhabitants of Lake County, Illinois, including, but not limited to, a loose or damaged well cap.
(L) Non-customary outdoor storage. It is a public nuisance to accumulate or allow to be accumulated non-customary outdoor storage on public or private property except in a state-permitted landfill or on premises properly zoned for and engaged in the business of a junk yard.
(Ord. 12-0446, passed 5-8-2012; Ord. passed 9-9-2014; Ord. passed 2-10-2015; Ord. 22-0011, passed 1-11-2022) Penalty, see § 94.99