915.01 KEEPING WEEDS CUT.
(a) It is hereby determined that all such weeds and vegetation as Russian, Canadian or common thistle, wild lettuce, wild mustard, rye grass, wild parsley, ragweed, milkweed and ironweed, as well as all other noxious weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation growing or being upon the lots or lands within the City as hereinafter described in subsection (b) hereof at a height exceeding six inches above the ground are a public nuisance.
(b) No owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge or responsibility for, the maintenance of the following described lots or lands within the City shall permit noxious weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation as described in subsection (a) hereof to grow or be upon such lots or lands at a height exceeding six inches above the ground:
(1) All sublots in a recorded subdivision in their entirety.
(2) All land which lies within twenty feet of a lot line which is adjacent to lots or lands upon which a residential or commercial building exists .
(3) All land which lies within 100 feet of a public thoroughfare.
(c) In applying enforcement of this section, the City shall allow and encourage the purposeful maintenance of native plants that can be left unmowed without a height limit on a case by case basis, based on visual inspection that allows for such growth when a reasonable number of the following cues are present
(1) Clean edges and boundaries such as mown strips along bordering properties, pathways, driveways and sidewalks, except the tree lawn and within six feet of a public street
(2) Fences and borders
(3) Obvious regular maintenance is occurring
(4) Flowering plants and trees
(5) Wildlife feeders and houses
(6) Familiar layouts and design elements
(Ord. 24-047. Passed 4-16-24.)
915.02 NOTICE TO CUT WEEDS.
(a) Upon information that noxious weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation have not been cut as required by Section 915.01, the Bureau of Buildings, Inspections, Licenses and Permits shall cause a written notice of violation to be sent to the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of the lots, lands or premises. This notice shall be served by sending it by regular U.S. mail or by personal service to the owner, and/or lessee, agent, tenant or person having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of the lot, lands or premises at his/her address indicating that such growth must be cut and destroyed within five days after service of notice.
(b) If the address of the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of such lots or lands is unknown, it is sufficient to publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.
(c) Every notice to cut and destroy noxious weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation shall state that if the notice is not complied with within the time limit provided therein, in addition to the penalty provided in Section 915.99, costs incurred by the City in cutting and destroying such growth shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and shall be a lien upon such lots and lands.
(d) When a written notice of violation has been issued in accordance with the provisions of this section, such notice shall constitute adequate and effective notice for all enforcement purposes under this chapter with respect to continuing or repeat violations of Section 915.01, for a period of one year following the date such initial notice is given.
(Ord. 08-041. Passed 4-1-08.)