(A) Residential. The exterior of premises, the exterior of dwelling structures and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of such premises and all buildings thereon reflects a level of maintenance in keeping with the residential standards of the immediate neighborhood, so that the appearance of 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 immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values, including the following:
(1) Storage of commercial and industrial equipment and material. There shall not be stored or used at a location visible from the sidewalk, street or other public area, equipment and materials relating to commercial or industrial uses, unless permitted under the zoning code for the premises.
(2) Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property and impairing the good residential character of the immediate neighborhood.
(3) Signs. 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.
(4) Dwellings and secondary or appurtenant structures.
(a) All exterior parts of every dwelling structure, including exterior walls, parapet walls, decorative additions, chimneys, fences and other exterior structures, either above or below the roof line, shall be maintained in a safe condition, weathertight and so as to resist decay or deterioration from any cause.
(b) Any dwelling structure or secondary or appurtenant structure whose exterior surface is bare, deteriorated, ramshackle, tumbledown, decaying, disintegrating or in poor repair shall be repaired or razed, as follows:
1. All buckled, rotted or decayed walls, doors, windows, porches, floors, steps, trim or railings and any missing member shall be replaced and put in good condition.
2. All replacements shall match and conform to the original design or be replaced completely.
3. All exterior wood or exterior unfinished surfaces shall be sealed and painted or surface-coated with another approved protective coating or treated to prevent rot or decay. Such paint, protective coating or treatment shall conform to and match the existing paint or surface covering and the original design or replacement thereof. All exterior walls and surfaces shall be properly protected against the weather where such are defective or lack weather protection, including a lack of paint or surface covering, or have weathered due to a lack of proper protective covering.
4. The structure shall be maintained free of broken windows, crumbling stone or brick or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance in order that the property itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and the adjoining properties and the immediate neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
(c) Any dwelling structure or secondary or appurtenant structure whose exterior surface deteriorating, decaying or disintegrating, or whose exterior surface has weathered with dirt and grime or has been impaired through peeling or flaking of the paint or other protective coating, shall be repaired, repainted or resurfaced, as follows:
1. All exterior surfaces shall be replaced in good condition preparatory to repainting or coating.
2. All bare exterior surfaces which are flaking or crumbling shall be replaced or sealed in a good and workmanlike manner.
3. All new or repaired bare surfaces shall be painted or coated.
4. All exterior surfaces weathered with dirt and grime, or which are peeling or flaking, shall be painted or covered with an approved protective coating or surface.
(d) Presentation of evidence that all exterior surfaces have, not more than five years prior to the date of inspection, been properly prepared and painted with at least one coat of good exterior paint or covered with other approved protective coating or surface shall be prima facie evidence of the exterior being in good condition.
(B) Nonresidential. The exterior of premises and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the standards of the immediate neighborhood, so that the appearance 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 immediate neighborhood with the accompanying in diminution of property values, including the following:
(1) Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to the public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor which depreciates adjoining property.
(2) Signs and billboards. Permanent signs and billboards, exposed to public view and permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use, shall be maintained in good repair. Signs which have weathered or are faded, or those upon which the paint has peeled or cracked, shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. All nonoperative or broken electrical signs shall be repaired or shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith.
(3) Windows. Windows exposed to public view shall be kept free of foreign substances, except when necessary in the course of changing displays. No storage of materials, stock or inventory shall be permitted in window display areas or other areas ordinarily exposed to public view, unless such areas are first screened from public view by draperies, by venetian blinds or by other permanent rendering of the windows to make them opaque to the public view. All screening of interiors shall be maintained in a clean and attractive manner and kept in a good state of repair.
(4) Store fronts. Store fronts shall be kept in good repair, shall be painted where required and shall not constitute a safety hazard or a nuisance. If repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same materials used in the construction of the store front, or with similar materials, 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.
(5) Awnings and marquees. Awnings or marquees and their accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. If such awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with this subsection, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed forthwith. If such awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or similar materials, such cloth or plastic, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
(`82 Code, § 1426.08) (Ord. 85-30, passed 5-21-85)