The exterior of a premises and all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances and hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, and shall be kept free of unsanitary conditions, and any nuisance, hazard or unsanitary condition shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner, operator and occupant within a reasonable time. The owner, operator and occupant shall keep the premises free of hazards and in compliance with the following provisions:
(a) Refuse. Exterior property areas of all premises shall be kept free of debris, objects, materials or conditions that may create a health, accident or fire hazard, or that are a public nuisance, or that constitute a blighting or deteriorating influence on the neighborhood. Brush, broken glass, stumps, roots, filth, garbage, trash, debris and boats or trailers in a condition of disrepair or deterioration, or parts thereof, are not 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 a rotting or deteriorating condition or storm damage, constitutes a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof, is not permitted on any property. Trees shall be pruned and trimmed to prevent such conditions.
(c) Overhangings. Loose and overhanging objects which, by reason of their location above ground level, are liable to fall on persons or property in the vicinity thereof, are not permitted.
(d) Maintenance of Foundations.
(1) The foundation of a structure shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
(2) The foundation of a structure shall be maintained in such a condition as to prevent the seepage or leakage of water within the space enclosed within such foundation.
(3) All openings into the foundation of a structure shall be protected against the entrance of rodents.
(e) Chimneys and 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 and shall be structurally safe, durable, smoke tight and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(f) 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 does not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners or 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 the structure is not replaced completely.
(g) Landscaping. All premises shall be kept landscaped. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed and shall not be permitted to become overgrown and unsightly. Landscaping shall be installed within one year after an occupancy inspection is made and a permit is issued.
(h) Signs. All signs permitted by reason of other regulations, or as a lawful nonconforming use, shall be maintained in good repair. Printed matter, pictures or illustrations contained thereon shall be completely maintained, or, when no longer in use, completely removed.
(i) 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, and the materials used shall not be of a kind that by their appearance, under prevailing appraisal practices and standards, will depreciate the values of neighboring and adjoining premises.
(j) 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 any other condition 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 preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining properties and the neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
(k) 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 and structurally sound.
(l) Structural Soundness and General Maintenance. 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 wall, sidings and roofs. Exterior walls, sidings and roofs shall be 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) Weathertightness and watertightness. Every dwelling shall be maintained so as to be weathertight and watertight.
(4) Exterior walls, roofs, etc. Exterior walls, roofs, windows, window frames, doors, doorframes, foundations and other parts of the structure shall be maintained so 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.
(m) Freedom from Infestation. All parts of the premises shall be maintained so as to prevent infestation.
(Ord. 95-83. Passed. 11-28-83.)