CHAPTER 905
Trees, Weeds and Grass; Obstructions in Right-of-Way
905.01   Cutting of weeds and grass required.
905.02   Trimming of trees and shrubs required.
905.03   Removal of dangerous trees.
905.04   Planting of trees and shrubs regulated.
905.05   Notice to cut, trim or remove.
905.06   Failure to comply; remedy of Municipality.
905.07   Fees charged by Municipality.
905.08   Payment of fees.
905.09   Removal of fallen branches, limbs, etc.
905.10    Cutting of weeds and grasses in adjacent rights-of-way.
905.11   Grass clippings on public sidewalks and public streets.
905.12   Obstructions in rights-of-way.
905.99   Penalty.
 
CROSS REFERENCES
Power to regulate shade trees and shrubbery - see Ohio R.C. 715.20
Assessments for tree planting or maintenance - see Ohio R.C. 727.011
Notice to cut noxious weeds - see Ohio R.C. 731.51 et seq.
Destruction of weeds - see Ohio R.C. 971.33 et seq.
Noxious weeds - see OAC 901:5-31
 
905.01 CUTTING OF WEEDS AND GRASS REQUIRED.
   The owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge or care of any land, parcel or lot within the Municipality shall maintain the premises and exterior property free from weeds or plant growth including grass in excess of six (6) inches. All noxious weeds are prohibited.
      (1)   Noxious weeds defined. Wild mustard; musk thistle (nodding thistle); oxeye daisy; Canada thistle; poison hemlock; wild carrot; purple loosestrife; wild parsnip; mile-a-minute weed; Russian thistle; cressleaf groundsel; shattercane; Johnsongrass; hogweed; chicory; thistle; plantain; dandelion; trumpet vine; amur honeysuckle; lambs quarters; grapevines (abandoned); poison ivy; poison oak; poison sumac; any and all additional noxious weeds on the Ohio noxious weed list maintained by the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.
      (2)   Plant growth defined. All grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs. This term does not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Natural plantings of native wild plants and accepted cultivars of wild plants are a recognized type of landscaping. These areas must be tended, cultivated in a manner consistent with natural plantings, and confined to a definite area.
         (Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.02 TRIMMING OF TREES AND SHRUBS REQUIRED.
   The owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge or care of any lot or parcel of land fronting on any street, alley, avenue or public grounds in the Municipality, in which shade trees are planted and growing, shall trim or cause to be trimmed, all shade trees or shrubbery in front of the respective lots or lands when so ordered or directed by the Administrator. All trees shall be trimmed so as to have a clear height of ten feet above the surface of sidewalks and twelve feet above the surface of the street or roadway. The branches of all trees in front and along lots or lands near which public lamps are placed shall be trimmed so as not to obstruct the free passage of light from the lamps to the street and sidewalks.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.03 REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS TREES.
   The Administrator is hereby authorized to remove trees within the limits of the Municipal streets that have been determined to be dangerous to the public.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.04 PLANTING OF TREES AND SHRUBS REGULATED.
   No owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge or care of any land, parcel or lot within the Municipality shall plant or cause to be planted any tree, bush or shrub in or upon any street, alley, right of way or any other land owned by the Municipality.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.05 NOTICE TO CUT, TRIM OR REMOVE.
   (a)    When determined through inspection by the Administrator or his/her designee, that weeds, grass or other undesirable vegetation exceeding the height specified in Section 905.01 or that trees or shrubs exceeding the clear height specified in Section 905.02 or that the accumulation of dead, fallen or cut tree branches, limbs or trimmings as specified in Section 905.09 exist upon any land within the corporate limits of the Municipality, the Administrator shall cause notice to be served to the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge or care of such land to abate the violation. Such notice shall include the following:
      (1)   An order to cut or destroy the weeds, grass or vegetation or trim such trees or shrubs or remove such fallen limbs, branches or trimmings within two days of being noticed to do so.
      (2)   A statement that the Village of Obetz or designated contractor will complete the work requested after the second day, the cost of which shall be a lien on the real property where the violation was abated or removed. Such notice shall also state that the failure of such owner, occupant or person to remedy the violation as required by such notice shall be deemed an implied consent for the Village to abate or remove such violation. Such implied consent shall be deemed to form a contract between such owner, occupant or person and the Village.
   
   (b)   Written notice shall be served by any of the following methods:
      (1)   Handing the notice to some person of suitable age and discretion residing or employed therein;
      (2)   Delivering notice by the United States First Class mail to any of the owners, lessees, tenants or other persons or entities having charge or care of land and posting the notice by affixing it to the front of the building in clear view from the street or affixing it to a free-standing post or stake in clear view from the street, service being effective upon posting;
   (c)   Publishing the notice once in a local newspaper of general circulation.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.06 FAILURE TO COMPLY; REMEDY OF MUNICIPALITY.
   (a)   In the event the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge or care of any land, parcel or lot within the Municipality does not comply with the order to cut or destroy the weeds, grass or undesirable vegetation or trim the trees or shrubs within the time limit specified in Section 905.05 after a proper notice to abate the violation has been issued by the Administrator, the Administrator shall cause such undesirable vegetation to be cut and destroyed or trees or shrubs to be trimmed, and may employ the necessary labor and equipment to perform such task, together with any cleanup work required, within appropriations previously made by Council. This remedy is in addition to the penalty provided in Section 905.99 . The Village of Obetz shall not be responsible for damage done to the premises under the authorization provided in herein.
   (b)   If the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other such person having charge of such lots or land fails or refuses to cut or destroy the weeds, grass or undesirable vegetation or trim the trees or shrubs and it becomes necessary for the Village of Obetz to abate the violation more than one time during any calendar year, the Administrator may abate subsequent violations without the necessity of further notice.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.07 FEES CHARGED BY MUNICIPALITY.
   Upon completion of abatement of the violation, the Administrator shall invoice the owner for all such work performed at a liquidated cost of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per on-site man-hour including all equipment, equipment maintenance, supplies, and overhead costs, with a minimum charge of three hundred dollars ($300.00). If a contractor performs the work, the Administrator will invoice the owner for the costs of hiring the contractor plus a one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) administration fee.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
905.08 PAYMENT OF FEES.
   The owner shall pay such fees as are charged in accordance with Section 905.07 to the Finance Director within thirty days after receipt of such statement of costs to avoid further cost or penalty. If the fee is not paid when due, the Finance Director shall certify to the County Auditor the proceedings taken under this chapter, together with a statement of the charges for such services as listed in Section 905.07 and a legal description of the premises. Such amounts shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and shall be a lien upon such lands from the date of entry and shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the General Fund as provided by Ohio R.C. 731.54.
(Ord. 52-14. Passed 10-15-14.)
905.09 REMOVAL OF FALLEN BRANCHES, LIMBS, ETC.
   No owner, agent, lessee, tenant or other having charge of property within the Municipality, shall cause, or allow to cause, the accumulation of dead, fallen or cut tree branches, limbs or trimmings on such lands as to constitute a public nuisance or hazard or which may be considered dangerous to the public as determined through inspection by the Administrator or his/her designee.
(Ord. 26-13. Passed 5-13-13.)
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