It shall be the duty of every owner of real estate in the city to cut and clear such real estate, together with one-half of the streets and alleys abutting thereon, of all weeds, grasses, and worthless vegetation. Such weeds, grasses, and worthless vegetation shall be cut so as not to extend more than 12 inches above the ground. For purposes of this section, weeds, grasses, and worthless vegetation shall not be defined to include any vegetation that is primarily decorative, is used as part of a going business, and is within a fenced enclosure and not visible to the general public from public right-of-ways, or which planted or maintained as part of a garden or for landscaping purposes. In order to qualify for the foregoing exemption, the property owner must first apply for a permit from the governing body detailing the vegetation to be planted or maintained. There shall be no fee for such permit. Subsequent to the cutting of said weeds, grasses, and worthless vegetation, all lose vegetation shall be immediately removed. Upon the failure of the owner, lessee, or occupant having control of any such real estate to cut and clear said weeds, grasses, and worthless vegetation as set forth hereinbefore, the city police shall serve notice on said owner, lessee, or occupant to do so. In the event that the weeds, grasses, and vegetation have not been removed after a period of five days, the governing body may order the same to be done under the direction of the Street Commissioner and the cost thereof shall be chargeable to the property owner. If the owner fails to reimburse the city after being properly billed, the cost may be assessed against the real estate and certified to the County Treasurer and the same shall be collected in the manner provided by law. In the event the property owner is a non-resident of the county in which the property lies, the city shall, before levying any special assessment against that property, send a copy of any notice required by law to be published by means of certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the non-resident property owner. The last known address shall be that address listed on the current tax rolls at the time such required notice was first published.
(Prior Code, § 6-327) (Ord. 674, passed 8-3-2016) Penalty, see § 10.99
Statutory reference:
Generally, see Neb. RS 17-563