1319.08 GROUNDS.

   (a)    Exterior Property Areas.

       (1)    General. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. Exterior property areas shall be free of excessive vegetation, weeds, trash and debris.

       (2)    Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, including accumulation within structures, with the exception of water retention areas and reservoirs approved by the Commissioner of Building.

       (3)    Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers shall not discharge gases, steam, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous or particular wastes directly upon abutting or adjacent public or private property.

       (4)    Accessory structures. Structures and equipment placed or erected upon paved grounds, including curbs, guardrails, signs, light fixtures and poles, garages, fences and walls, shall be maintained in good repair. Structures and equipment which are deteriorated or obsolete shall be removed or replaced.

          A.    Signs indicating driver instructions, ownership of property and use restrictions shall be maintained in good repair and clearly visible to pedestrians and operators of vehicles.

          B.    Curbs, guardrails and wheel stops shall be maintained in good repair, and shall be placed in suitable locations so as to facilitate traffic flow and the safety of pedestrians, and so as to prevent vehicle encroachment upon adjacent property or landscaping. If a parking plan is required by the City Zoning Code, curbs, guardrails and wheel stops shall be placed in accordance therewith, as approved by the Planning Director. Guardrails shall be properly aligned and the surrounding areas shall be free of all debris and excessive vegetation. Telephone poles, railroad ties and other materials which deteriorate quickly shall not be used for guardrails or wheel stops.

          C.    The placement of bicycle curbs and racks shall comply with the purpose and intent of this chapter, and shall be approved by the Commissioner of Building. Bicycle curbs and racks shall be maintained in good repair. Bicycle curbs and racks shall be placed so that neither the curbs and racks, nor the bicycles parked thereon, shall block sidewalks, building entrances, or impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

       (5)    Paved grounds and parking areas. Paved grounds, including parking areas, shall be maintained in good repair, free of debris, chuck holes, loose gravel, loose asphalt, loose concrete and vegetation. Parking areas with more than four spaces shall have each space striped. Parking areas shall be marked with appropriate traffic control markings and islands. Striping and markings shall be clearly visible to pedestrians and operators of vehicles.

(6)    Stairs. All stairs and handrails shall be structurally sound and capable of supporting normally imposed loads.

       (7)    Rat harborage. All structures and exterior property areas shall be kept free from rat infestation. Where rats are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.

       (8)    Motor vehicles. No motor vehicle, boat, camper or trailer, shall at any time be kept or stored in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled.

Exception: A vehicle of any type, or a boat, camper or trailer, is permitted to undergo mechanical repairs and body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.

Exception: Motor vehicles, boats, campers and trailers are permitted in impound lots operated by the City, or used in connection with the operation of the Police Department, and/or otherwise approved by the City.

       (9)    Graffiti. All surfaces, including but not limited to walls, fences, parking lots, sidewalks, curbs, furniture and equipment, signs, and dumpsters shall be maintained free of graffiti.

   (b)    Landscaping.

       (1)    Grounds which are unpaved shall be landscaped with a healthy stand of grass, appropriate ground cover, or other appropriate vegetation.

       (2)    Trees, shrubs, ground cover, grasses and other landscape materials shall be designed, planted and maintained in a manner consistent with good landscaping practice.

       (3)    Landscape materials which die or are damaged shall be replaced with similar vegetation, and shall comply with the approved site plan, if any.

       (4)    Landscape materials on sidewalks and tree lawns shall be approved by the Planning Director.

        (5)    No landscaping shall impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

   (c)    Sidewalks and Tree Lawns.

       (1)    Sidewalk and tree lawns shall be maintained in good repair and free from hazardous conditions. Sidewalks shall be kept broom clean. Sidewalks and tree lawns shall be free of excessive vegetation, trash and debris.

       (2)    Freestanding objects, including but not limited to trash receptacles, vending machines and benches, shall be maintained in good repair and free of trash, debris and excessive vegetation.

   (d)    Rubbish and Garbage.

       (1)    All exterior property and premises, and the interior of every structure, shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage, such as to cause a health hazard or public nuisance.

       (2)    Equipment, materials, baled or bound containers, and merchandise stored on grounds shall be in good repair, stored in accordance with the City Zoning Code, free of all public nuisances, and shall be screened from public view. The placement of such storage shall be approved by the Planning Director.

       (3)    Dumpsters shall be maintained in good repair and free from rust and damaged components. Areas surrounding dumpsters shall be free from trash, debris and excessive vegetation. Dumpsters shall be adequate to hold all garbage and rubbish with a closed cover. Covers shall remain closed at all times except when filling and emptying. Dumpsters shall be located in an appropriate place so as not to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

       (4)    Dumpsters shall be placed in locations and screened from public view so as to comply with the Zoning Code. The placement of dumpsters shall be approved by the Planning Director.

(5)    Rubbish or garbage kept or disposed of in violation of the City Health Code or the Zoning Code shall be deemed to be a public nuisance.

         (Ord. 99-42. Enacted 4-26-99; Ord. 13-114. Enacted 12-16-13.)