1363.302 EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS
1363.302.1 Sanitation
All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage. No person shall erect, continue to use, or maintain a building, structure, or place for the exercise of a trade, employment, or business or for keeping or feeding an animal which, by occasioning noxious exhalations or noisome or offensive smells, becomes injurious to the health, comfort, or property of individuals or of the public. No person shall cause or allow offal, filth, or noisome substances to be collected or remain in any place to the damage or prejudice of others or of the public. No person shall allow the accumulation on any lot or in any such building, house, or structure, rubbish or other materials which shall or will, if such condition is suffered to continue, attract and propagate vermin or insects. Regulations for the disposal of garbage and rubbish are detailed in Chapter 941 of the North Olmsted Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 2016-130. Passed 12-20-16.)
 
1363.302.2 Discarded materials
All exterior property and premises shall be maintained free of discarded materials.
Commercial property owners shall provide adequate trash receptacles for customer use to maintain the premises free of trash and rubbish. Repeated failures to maintain the premises free of discarded materials may result in the City requiring the provisions of or addition of trash receptacles. (Ord. 2017-17. Passed 3-7-17.)
1363.302.3 Building materials
Owners shall not permit the accumulation of building materials or construction equipment upon property and shall remove said materials or equipment from the exterior of the property, except when said building materials or equipment are permitted upon property where the owner is in possession of a valid and existing building permit issued by the City or if the owner is otherwise in the process of construction or improvements upon said property.
1363.302.4 Commercial and industrial materials
Equipment, vehicles, materials or waste relating to commercial or industrial uses shall not be stored or used unless expressly permitted under the City's Zoning Code for the premises.
1363.302.5 Compost heap
A compost heap shall not be placed in any front yard as defined by the City's Zoning Code and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any side and rear yard lot line and a minimum of 25 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling unit. In no event shall a compost heap be located in any riparian zone, drainage or utility easement. A compost heap shall be no more than four feet in height, and shall not exceed a maximum ground or base area of 30 square feet. The depositing of pet waste, meat scraps, or other materials that may attract animals or vermin to the compost heap or which may provide an obnoxious odor is prohibited. Any compost heap shall be confined in a fenced area, compost bin or similar enclosed structure.
1363.302.6 Vegetation
a. Safe flow of traffic
All hedges, bushes, trees and other vegetation, both within or without of the right-of-way, shall be kept trimmed and from becoming overgrown so that such growth does not interfere with the safe flow of traffic or is an obstruction to traffic sight lines or otherwise blocks, impedes or interferes with appropriate traffic safety signs. Bushes, shrubs and/or vegetation in the front yard areas shall be cut to a maximum height of three feet and for a distance of twenty feet from the inside edge of the sidewalk.
 
b. Maintenance
All plant materials, especially trees and shrubs, which are dead, afflicted with decay, disease or insect infestation, or otherwise considered dangerous to other plant material; or are in such a condition that it shall or will, if such condition is suffered to continue, endanger the life, limb, or property or cause hurt, damage, or injury to persons or property or cause hurt, damage, or injury to persons or property upon the public streets, or rights-of-way adjacent thereto, by the falling thereof or of parts thereof, shall be removed or appropriately treated.
Exception: Any portion of property which is within a riparian zone of any creek or waterway, an environmental conservation area or wooded area, or undeveloped property which abuts Interstate-480 or land which is part of the Metroparks system shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
1363.302.7 Weeds and plant growth 
All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth, including cultivated lawns, in excess of six (6) inches. Weeds shall be defined as annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. All weeds and plant growth in excess of six (6) inches shall be cut and destroyed within forty-eight (48) hours after service of a Notice of Violation. If the owner fails to comply with the notice within the time allotted, the City may begin minor nuisance abatement, as outlined in Section 1363.107 of this code. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Noxious weeds include but are not limited to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac as well as those plants defined in Section 901:5-37 of the Ohio Administrative Code. (Ord. 2016-130. Passed 12-20-16.)
 
1363.302.8 Sidewalks, parking areas and driveways
All sidewalks, parking areas, walkways, driveways and other similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair and maintained free from hazardous or defective conditions such as, but not limited to:
a.   Cracks or horizontal gaps exceeding one inch;
b.   Settling, buckling, heaving or other defects causing vertical displacement exceeding one inch;
c.   Instability, structural damage, disintegration or shattering; or
d.   Pitting, scaling, spalling or deterioration of the paved surface causing a potential hazard to pedestrians. (Ord. 2018-14. Passed 2-20-18.)
 
1363.302.9 Motor vehicles
a.    Parking
No motor vehicle shall be parked on any lot unless parked on a hard surface including asphalt, concrete, or other approved surface.
b.    Storage of inoperable vehicles
No inoperable motor vehicle shall be parked, kept or stored on any lot. This section shall not be construed to permit the parking or placing of inoperable vehicles on any public right-of-way. No more than one vehicle may be parked while covered by a cover made for vehicles. All covered vehicles shall be operable.
c.    Major repair
No motor vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of motor vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
Exception: A motor vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.
d.    Minor repair
Minor repair, including changing a flat tire, window repair, oil changes, changing the air filter, tune-ups, changing wiper blades, changing lights, and other similar work of the personal vehicle(s) registered to the owner/occupant of such property is allowed on any property.
This section shall not otherwise authorize the operation of any motor vehicle repair facility in a zoning district where such use is either not accepted as a permitted or conditional use within such district.
1363.302.10 Accessory buildings and structures
All accessory buildings and structures, including, but not limited to detached garages, storage sheds, decks, gazebos, bridges, patios, pergolas, fences and walls, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
1363.302.11 Defacement of property
No person shall willfully or wantonly damage, mutilate or deface any exterior surface or any structure or building on any private or public property by placing thereon any marking, carving or graffiti. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore said surface to an approved state of maintenance and repair. Graffiti shall be removed or painted over immediately.
1363.302.12 Signs
 
All signs permitted and lawfully nonconforming shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has peeled shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. Any electrical components shall also be maintained in good repair.
(Ord. 2016-130. Passed 12-20-16.)
1363.302.13 Supplemental regulations for residential property
a.    Trash containers and receptacles
Trash containers shall be stored within garages or other buildings authorized for such purpose, or so located, or hidden by landscaping, fencing or an enclosure, as to not be visible from the public right of way; provided, however, that trash containers may be stored in side yard areas and visible from the right of way so long as the containers have lids that are sufficiently sealed so as to prevent animal or insect foraging and infestation, and are located immediately adjacent to the residential structure.
b.    Laundry
All laundry poles or lines for the drying of clothes shall be constructed and maintained only in the rear yard.
c.    Recreational vehicles
Recreational vehicles, as defined in the City's Zoning Code, shall not be parked or stored on residential property, except as permitted in Section 1135.02(h), and if covered, must be kept under covers that have been specifically designed for recreational vehicles. Recreational vehicles shall be parked on an approved paved surface. No recreational vehicle shall be parked unless it is titled to or leased and used exclusively by one of the permanent occupants of the property upon which the recreational vehicle is located.
d.    Yard waste
Yard clippings, leaves, including tree branches, shrubbery or other similar trimmings, shall not be stored, placed or permitted to accumulate on the tree lawn or within the right of way, except in conjunction with scheduled municipal service and in accordance with removal regulations.
e.    Firewood
The storage of firewood is only permitted on the side and rear yard subject to the following conditions:
      1.    Must be stacked neatly in a pile not to exceed five (5) feet in height;
      2.    Minimum distance of five (5) feet from rear and side lot lines;
      3.    Minimum distance of fifteen (15) from adjacent, neighboring structures;
      4.    Must be stored in such a manner as to avoid fire hazard, nuisance due to deterioration or pest infestation.
f.   Dumpsters
Where there is no active building permit, dumpsters are permitted on residential property for no more than fifteen (15) days per calendar year. Where there is an active building permit, dumpsters are permitted on residential property for no more than thirty (30) days. unless the time has been extended Extensions of time may be granted by the Building Commissioner. No more than one dumpster shall be placed on a residential property at any given time. The dumpster shall be placed on a paved surface or driveway. (Ord. 2019-69. Passed 9-3-19.)
 
1363.302.14 Supplemental regulations for non-residential property
a.    Landscaping
All trees, shrubs and other plantings which are part of a landscaping plan approved by the City pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1126 of the Zoning Code shall be maintained in a trimmed and healthy condition. Trees, shrubs and other plantings which have died shall be timely replaced with like and similar plantings.
b.    Fencing
When any fence belonging to a non-residential property, and serving as a boundary between residential and non-residential properties, falls into a state of disrepair such as would require repair or replacement of more than fifty percent (50%) of the length of that portion of the fence which borders the residential property, the entire length of the fence which borders the residential property shall be replaced with a solid fence of a material, style and height proposed by the property owner which is approved by the City through the minor change process as delineated in Chapter 1126.09 of the Zoning Code.
c.    Lighting
All exterior lighting shall be maintained and in good working condition. Nonworking lights shall be promptly replaced. Light fixtures, poles and pole bases shall be kept in good repair.
d. Outdoor Telephone Pay Stations
All outdoor telephone pay stations, freestanding or attached to any building, shall be maintained in a good and working condition and shall be free of rust, peeling paint or broken components. Any outdoor telephone pay station that is nonfunctioning shall be removed forthwith or put into a functioning and good state of repair. This section supercedes the maintenance provisions of Section 1339.03 of the North Olmsted Codified Ordinances.
"Outdoor telephone pay station" as used herein is any outdoor telephone capable of making or receiving telephone calls for a fee, together with all of its components.
(Ord. 2016-130. Passed 12-20-16.)