The exterior of the premises, all structures, parcels and lots thereon shall be kept free of unsanitary conditions, nuisances and hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises. Any such unsanitary condition, nuisance or hazard posing imminent danger to the health, safety and welfare of any person shall be immediately removed and abated by the owner, operator and occupant, and all other unsanitary conditions, nuisances or hazards shall be removed and abated by the owner, operator or occupant within seven days of receipt of notice by the Building Commissioner or other enforcement officer. The owner, operator and occupant shall keep premises free of hazards and in compliance with the following provisions:
(a) Refuse. Exterior property areas of all premises and lots shall be kept free of any debris, object, material or condition which may create a health, accident or fire hazard, which is a public nuisance or which constitutes a blighting or deteriorating influence on the neighborhood. Brush, broken glass, stumps, roots, filth, garbage, trash, motor vehicles, boats or trailers in a condition of disrepair or deterioration or parts thereof and debris shall not be permitted on any property.
(b) Natural Growth. Lawns, landscaping and trees shall be maintained so as not to constitute a blighting or deteriorating effect in the neighborhood. Dead and dying 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 shall not be permitted on any property. Trees shall be pruned and trimmed to prevent such conditions.
(c) Overhanging. Loose and overhanging objects which, by reason of location above ground level, constitute a danger of falling on persons or property in the vicinity thereof shall not be permitted.
(d) Ground Surface Hazards. Holes, excavations, breaks, projections and obstructions at any place on the premises which are a hazard to persons using the premises shall not be permitted.
(e) Recurring Accumulations of Storm Water. Natural drainage or adequate run-off drains shall be provided and maintained to eliminate any recurrent or excessive accumulation of storm water.
(f) Maintenance of Foundations.
(1) All foundations of every dwelling structure shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
(2) All foundations of every dwelling structure shall be maintained in such condition as to prevent the seepage or leaking of water within the space enclosed within such foundations.
(3) All openings into the foundations of every dwelling structure shall be protected against the entrance of rodents.
(g) Chimneys; Flue and Vent Attachments. Chimneys and flue and vent attachments thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, free from defects and so as to capably perform at all times the functions for which they were designed. Chimneys, flues, gas vents or other draft-producing equipment shall provide sufficient draft to develop the rated output of the connected equipment, shall be structurally safe, durable and smoke tight and shall be capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(h) Exterior Porches, Landings Balconies, Stairs and Fire Escapes. Exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs and fire escapes shall be provided with banisters or railings properly designed and maintained to minimize the hazard of persons falling therefrom, and the same shall be kept structurally sound, in good repair and free from defects.
(i) Condition of Exterior of Premises and Structures. The exterior of all structures and premises shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the area and so that the condition of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the area. All replacements and repairs must match and conform to the original design if not replaced completely. All radio and television antennas, satellite dishes and receiving stations with supporting structures shall require the planting and maintenance of evergreens for screening purposes.
(j) Landscaping. All premises and vacant land shall be kept landscaped and lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed and from becoming overgrown and unsightly.
(k) Signs. All signs permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair, and printed matter, pictures or illustrations contained thereon shall be completely maintained or when no longer in use completely removed.
(l) Reconstruction of Walls and Sidings. All reconstruction of walls and sidings shall be of standard quality and appearance commensurate with the character of the properties in the area. The materials used will not be of a kind that, by their appearance under prevailing appraisal practices and standards, will depreciate the values of neighboring and adjoining premises.
(m) General Maintenance. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure, including fences, shall be maintained in good repair and all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance. The same shall be maintained free of broken glass, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick, excessive peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance to the end that the property itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining properties and the neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
(n) Store Fronts. All store fronts shall be kept in good repair, shall be painted where required and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. If repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the store front in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area. Any cornice visible above a store front shall be kept painted, where required, and in good repair.
(o) Structural Soundness. Every building and accessory structure, and every part thereof, shall be kept structurally sound and in a state of good repair to avoid safety, health or fire hazards, including:
(1) Exterior walls, sidings and roofs. Exterior walls, sidings and roofs shall be kept maintained structurally sound, in good repair and free from defects.
(2) Painting and other protective coating. All exposed surfaces susceptible to decay shall be kept at all times painted or otherwise provided with a protective coating sufficient to prevent deterioration.
(3) Weather and watertightness. Every dwelling shall be so maintained as to be weather and watertight.
(4) Repairs. Exterior walls, roofs, windows, window frames, doors, door frames, foundations and other parts of the structure shall be so maintained as to keep water from entering the structure. Damaged materials shall be repaired or replaced promptly. Places showing signs of rot, leakage, deterioration or corrosion shall be restored and protected against weathering or seepage.
(p) Freedom from Infestation. All parts of the premises shall be maintained so as to prevent infestation.
(q) Refuse Receptacles. All premises shall have approved receptacles or other conveniences for the disposal of rubbish, garbage, refuse or other waste matter, as required by the Building Division. The owner or operator, or his or her agent, shall provide suitable screening to cause receptacles for the disposal of rubbish, garbage, refuse or other waste matter to be invisible from ground level to those residents living in residential areas or from a street right of way abutting commercial property from that property, and such screening shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission.
Existing premises which presently have refuse receptacles which do not have suitable screening are required to be screened by the owner or operator, or his or her agent. Planning Commission review and approval shall be required.
(r) Mailbox Supports. All mailbox supports in the City shall comply with the following guidelines and criteria established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials:
(1) Timber post with maximum of four inch by four inch measurement or four and one-half inch diameter.
(2) Standard wall pipe with maximum two and one-half inch diameter.
(3) Any material with equal break-away characteristics of paragraphs (r)(1) and (2) hereof not exceeding the maximum diameters or measurements established in paragraphs (r)(1) and (2) hereof.
Mailbox supports shall be maintained in good repair and free from defects.
Mailbox supports in City rights-of-way which do not comply with the guidelines and criteria established herein are public nuisances representing physical conditions dangerous to human life and detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of persons.
(Ord. 1970-167. Passed 10-7-70; Ord. 1986-73. Passed 2-18-87; Ord. 1986105. Passed 10-1-86; Ord. 91-220. Passed 9-3-91; Ord. 91-247. Passed 9-17-91; Ord. 91-248. Passed 9-17-91; Ord. 92-135. Passed 7-7-92.)
(s) Residential Composting of Yard Waste. Composting of yard waste shall be permitted on residential property. Any area of yard waste composting shall be located in the rear yard at least ten feet from the rear and side yard lot lines, at least ten feet from any accessory building or unattached garage and at least twenty feet from any residential dwelling or attached garage. Composting material must be adequately contained and composting areas must be screened at ground level with fencing, hedges or shrubbery. Fencing must be in compliance with the Zoning Code of the City.
(t) Sale of used motor vehicles and boats. Any resident of the Municipality shall, at any given time, be permitted to display for sale, in the open, one used motor vehicle or boat, which is titled and registered to them, on property of which he or she is the owner, upon satisfaction of the following conditions:
(1) If requested, the owner of the property must provide proof of ownership of said motor vehicle or boat to the North Royalton Building Commissioner or his designate anytime during the period it is on display for sale.
(2) Said motor vehicle must display current license plates duly registered to that motor vehicle while on sale and/or display.
(3) Said motor vehicle or boat may not be set on display for sale within the City right-of-way.
(4) For purposes of this chapter, “motor vehicle” shall have the same meaning/definition as that contained in Ohio R.C. 4501.01(B), with the exception of those motor vehicles specifically excluded in Chapter 1282, Section 1282.08(a) of the North Royalton Planning & Zoning Code.
(u) Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens.
(1) Roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstructions. Roof water shall not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance. Roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be connected to a public storm sewer, or in the event a public storm sewer is not available, shall be discharged in a manner approved by the Building Commissioner and the City Engineer, or his or her duly authorized representative. However, one or more downspout(s) may be diverted into an approved rain barrel or other structural storage container, provided that the overflow from such appurtenances is directed into the public storm sewer system. Rain barrels or other structural storage containers shall be covered at all times and incorporate a drainage system that directs any overflow away from the building's foundation and into the public storm sewer system. The installation of rain barrels or other structural storage containers shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer, or his or her duly authorized representative, and shall conform to the standards set forth by the City for such devices. Visual screening of rain barrels or other structural storage containers may be required, on a case by case basis, so as to prevent unsightly visual impacts to the surrounding area. This will be determined by the City Engineer or Building Commissioner, or his or her duly authorized representative, at the time of permit application and subject to any standards set forth by the city.
(2) As an alternative requirement of division (a) of this section stating that downspouts be connected to the public sewer system, one or more downspout(s) may be directed into an approved rain garden. Such rain garden shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Engineer, or his or her duly authorized representative, and shall be constructed in accordance with the latest edition of the Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners. No rain garden shall be constructed until a permit has been obtained.
(3) This requirement shall be waived for existing appurtenant structures if, in the opinion of the City Engineer, or his or her duly authorized representative, the drainage does not cause excessive erosion or water damage or does not create a nuisance on public or private property.
(Ord. 92-229. Passed 12-15-92; Ord. 2000-64. Passed 4-18-00; Ord. 09-68. Passed 7-7-09; Ord. 11-63. Passed 5-17-11.)