(A) Policy. Because of the danger to health by providing places for vermin and insects and/or creating a fire hazard by the accumulation of discarded materials and the risk caused by the attraction of children to it, junk is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(B) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
COMPOST PILE. A pile, mound, or heap (whether on the ground or in a container or structure) consisting solely of organic materials that are intentionally collected in order to create a compost material for gardening purposes.
DEBRIS. Remains of something broken down or destroyed, rough broken bits and pieces of stone, glass, wood, concrete building materials after demolition, bits and pieces of rubbish or litter, or a heap of rock fragments.
JUNK. Any article in any form composed of or consisting of any of the following enumerated: discarded, abandoned, or cast-off materials. The term shall include, but not be limited to, paper, rags, tin, metals, residue from burning, broken glass, clothing, rubber, plastics, synthetic substances and fabrics, bottles, feathers, automobile parts detached from the vehicle as a whole, and household items not intended for exposure to rain and other inclement weather (includes furniture, mattress, and major appliances).
LUMBER. Wooden materials that are not in good usable condition or are not kept in an orderly fashion or are not actively being used in a construction process on the parcel where the materials are being kept.
PUBLIC PLACES. Any and all streets, sidewalks, boulevards, avenues, lanes, alleys, or other public ways, and parks, squares, plazas, grounds, and buildings frequented by the general public whether publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to, restaurants, shopping centers, stores, hotels, motels, industrial establishments, office buildings, apartment buildings, gas stations, hospitals, and clinics.
TRASH. Waste such as feathers, coffee grounds, ashes, tin cans, paper boxes, glass, wood, shrubs, yard clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, and other similar materials.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to permit the accumulation of junk, trash, or debris upon any property unless located in a properly zoned and established landfill or junkyard. This shall include any of the following:
(1) Junk, trash, litter, refuse, debris, lumber, wood, and brush;
(2) Abandoned, discarded, or unused objects or equipment such as automobiles, mobile homes, trailers, campers, furniture, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, appliances, cans, or containers;
(3) Automobile parts, including tires and any other portion or parts of any motor vehicle detached from the vehicle as a whole; and
(4) Scrap metal or pieces or parts of steel, iron, tin, zinc, copper, aluminum, or any alloy thereof, whether covered with porcelain, plastic, rubber, or any other materials and whether intact or in parts.
(D) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, it shall not be a violation of this section to create and maintain a residential compost pile provided:
(1) The compost pile does not occupy an area greater than 100 square feet; and
(2) The compost pile is either 100 feet from any other parcel or completely screened by a fence or other man made or natural screen such that the compost pile is not visible from any other parcel.
(E) Maintenance of property.
(1) It shall be the duty of any person owning or controlling any private premises to maintain such private premises in a clean and orderly manner. It shall be a violation of this chapter to abandon, neglect, or disregard the condition or appearance of any premises so as to permit the accumulation of junk and trash thereon.
(2) It shall be the duty of any person owning or controlling any public place to keep the premises clean of all junk, trash, litter, refuse, and debris and to take measures, including daily cleanup of the premises, to prevent the accumulation of the above listed materials or movement by the elements to adjoining properties.
(3) The property owners and contractors in charge of any construction site shall maintain the construction site in such manner as to avoid the accumulation of junk and trash, and no junk or trash shall be allowed to be carried by the elements to adjoining properties. All junk, trash, and litter from construction or related activities shall be picked up at the end of each work day and placed in a container for regular removal.
(F) Such nuisances shall be subject to abatement in accordance with § 96.03.
(Ord. 2017-08, passed 7-24-2017)