The following terms, wherever used herein or referred to in this chapter, shall have the respective meanings assigned to them unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
(a) "Accessory structure" means a detached building or structure in a secondary or subordinate capacity from the main building.
(b) "Building" means a combination of materials enclosed within walls or exterior walls, built, erected and framed of component structured parts designed for the housing, shelter, enclosure and support of individuals, business, institutions, animals, or property of any kind.
(c) "Building Code" means the Building Code as adopted by the Council of the Village of Lexington.
(d) "Commercial trailers" means trailers used for business purposes, including semi- trailers and concession trailers.
(e) "Deterioration" means the condition or appearance of a building or part thereof, characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting, or other evidence of physical decay, neglect, or lack of maintenance.
(f) "Dwelling" means any structure designed for use by human occupants for sleeping and living purposes, whether occupied or vacant.
(g) "Dwelling unit" means any room or group of rooms located within a building forming a single habitable unit.
(h) "Exposed to public view" means any premises, or any part thereof, or any building or any part, which may be lawfully viewed by the public or any member thereof, from a sidewalk, street, alleyway, open-air parking lot, or from any adjoining or neighboring premises.
(i) "Exterior of the premises" means those portions of a building which are exposed to public view and the open space of any premises outside of any building erected thereon.
(j) "Fire hazard" means any thing or act which increases or may cause any increase of the hazard or menace of fire to a greater degree than that customarily recognized as normal by persons in the public service of preventing, suppressing, or extinguishing fire, or that which may obstruct, delay, or hinder or may become the cause of any obstruction, delay, or hindrance or may become the cause of any obstruction, delay, hazard, or hindrance to the prevention, suppression, or extinguishment of fire.
(k) "Garbage" means putrescible animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food.
(l) "Immediate neighborhood" means an area separated by no appreciable space and specially denoting a limited number of properties in a very close space relationship to each other.
(m) "Infestation" means the presence of insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests on the premises which constitute a health hazard.
(n) "Mixed occupancy" means any building containing one or more dwelling units or rooming units and also having a portion thereof devoted to nondwelling uses.
(o) "Natural growth" means dead trees and limbs or other natural growth, which by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage, constitute a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof.
(p) "Nuisance" means:
(1) Any public nuisance known in equity jurisprudence, or as provided by the Statutes of the State of Ohio or the ordinances of the Village of Lexington.
(2) Conditions dangerous to human life or detrimental to the health of persons on or near the premises where the conditions exist and where the conditions are perilous by active and negligent operation thereof.
(3) Unsanitary conditions or anything offensive to the senses or dangerous to health, in violation of this chapter.
(4) Fire hazards.
(q) "Occupant" means any person who has charge, care, or control of a building, structure, dwelling, or premises (or a part thereof), whether with or without the knowledge and consent of the owner.
(r) "Owner" means the owner or owners of the premises including the holder of title thereto subject to contract of purchase, a vendee in possession, a mortgagee or receiver in possession, lessee or joint lessees of the whole thereof or an agent or any other person, firm, corporation, or fiduciary directly in control of the premises.
(s) "Overhangings" means loose and overhanging objects, which by reason of location above ground level, constitute a danger of falling on persons in the vicinity thereof.
(t) "Premises" means a lot, plot, or parcel of land, including the buildings or structures thereon.
(u) "Recreational vehicle" shall have the same meaning as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4501.01(Q).
(v) "Property Maintenance Officer" means the Zoning Inspector of the Village of Lexington or such other public official or deputy property maintenance officer as shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council. .
(w) “Refuse” means all putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes (except body wastes) including but not limited to garbage, rubbish, ashes, dead animals, and solid market and industrial wastes; an accumulation of brush, broken glass, stumps, and roots that present a safety hazard, and includes garbage, trash and debris which present an unsanitary and/or safety hazard.
(x) "Registered mail" means registered or certified mail.
(y) "Rooming unit" means any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit other than a dwelling unit, which is rented or available for rent for sleeping purposes with or without cooking facilities.
(z) "Rubbish" means nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, crockery, and similar materials.
(aa) "Structure" means a combination of any materials, whether fixed or portable, forming a construction.
(bb) "Trash" includes rubbish and refuse as defined herein.
(cc) "Weathering" means deterioration, decay, or damage caused by exposure to the elements. (Ord. 05-46. Passed 11-20-06.)