(A) Sanitation. All exterior properly and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The occupant shall keep that part of the exterior property that the occupant occupies and/or controls in a clean and sanitary condition.
(B) Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil and to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any structure located thereon. Exception: approved detention/retention areas, basins, and reservoirs.
(1) Removal of vegetation; replacement. Any person removing vegetation from any real estate in the city shall reseed, re-sod, or re-vegetate the same within three months from the date of removal, unless a building/construction permit or erosion prevention and sediment control permit is received from the appropriate city department. Exception: customary use of real estate for agricultural and/or horticultural use.
(2) Discharge of runoff or ground water to sanitary sewer. No person shall make connection of roof drains, exterior fountain drains, area-way drains, other sources of runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain that, in turn, is connected, directly or indirectly, to a public sanitary sewer.
(3) Drainage way maintenance. The owner of the premises shall maintain all drainage ways on the premises. This includes mowing and trimming of the drainage way and keeping the drainage way free from all obstructions. Obstructions shall include, but are not limited to, grass clippings, tree limbs, or rubbish of any kind that alters, restricts, or prohibits the drainage way from functioning in a proper manner.
(C) Sidewalks, public ways, and driveways.
(1) General. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces, public ways, and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair and maintained free from hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, periodically renewing, repaving, or otherwise maintaining a smooth surface. The accumulation of snow and ice shall be considered a hazardous condition and should be removed in a timely manner as prescribed by other city ordinances.
(2) Obstructions. The owner, operator, and/or occupant shall keep all sidewalks, streets, alleys, driveways, public highway, public ways or railroad crossings clear and free of all obstructions. This shall include the placing, planting, or locating of any planted material or changing the grade of the land that obstructs the view of oncoming traffic.
(D) Weeds and grass.
(1) General. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from grass, weeds or plant growth in excess of ten inches in height. This includes maintaining to the pavement or to the curb edge of any street, alley or roadway. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. WEEDS shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, ornamental grasses and gardens.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) On a premises in excess of two acres that does not contain a dwelling unit, the grass, weeds and plant growth shall be maintained to a height not to exceed 36 inches;
(b) A premises that is used for agricultural purposes shall be maintained to a height commensurate with customary practice for agricultural uses; and
(c) A premises that is predominantly woodlands and trees and the same dominates the land and no crop or agricultural use is made at the premises.
(E) Rodent harborage. All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from rodent harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. After pest elimination, proper precautions shall be taken to eliminate rodent harborage and prevent infestation.
(F) Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers shall not discharge gases, steam, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous or particulate wastes directly upon abutting or adjacent public or private property or that of another tenant.
(G) Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, sheds, gazebos, decks, fences, and walls, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
(H) Inoperable vehicles.
(1) No vehicle, whether completely covered over by a covering (i.e., a tarp, and the like), shall be parked on any property or premises in the city that can be viewed from a public highway or street or from an adjoining property, which vehicle remains for a period of seven days in the same relative location and that for mechanical or other reasons cannot be moved under its own power, or that cannot be operated legally upon a public highway or street, or that is unreasonably unsightly, or that is not currently registered, or that is an inoperable vehicle as defined in this chapter. Each inoperable vehicle is a separate and distinct offense under this chapter.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) A vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that the work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes; and
(b) A vehicle stored at the premises of a legally approved vehicle repair or salvage operation, that is a business enterprise in compliance with applicable zoning ordinance standards and in possession of a current city business license.
(I) Recreational vehicles and travel trailers. No one shall be permitted to reside on a permanent basis in a recreational vehicle or travel trailer unless it is parked in a campground. For purposes of the section, PERMANENT BASIS shall be any period of time longer than seven days consecutive or 14 days total in one calendar month.
(J) Defacement of property. No person shall willfully or wantonly damage, mutilate, or deface any exterior surface of any structure or building on any private or public property by placing thereon any marking, carving or graffiti. It shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or operator to restore the surface to an approved state of maintenance and repair.
(K) Animals, fowl, or reptiles. It shall be a violation for any person to own, keep, harbor, or possess any domestic or other animal of any nature, any fowl, or reptile that becomes a public nuisance.
(1) Animal nuisance. For the purposes of this section, PUBLIC NUISANCE shall be defined as:
(a) Having, or keeping in excess of, five total mature animals, including dogs, cats, or any other animal, fowl, or reptile without a kennel license (conditional use permit). Exception: any person or organization operating a foster or rescue program who can show proof of the foster or rescue program.
(b) Having or keeping any animal traditionally identified as livestock (including, but not limited to, cattle, swine, sheep, goats and chickens) in any area not zoned agricultural.
(c) Failure to keep any animal’s pen, yard, lot, or other enclosure in a sanitary condition and free from preventable odors.
(2) Slaughtering. It shall be prohibited to conduct or maintain any slaughterhouse or other premises or area for the slaughtering of animals, fowl or reptiles, or to render the byproducts of the same. Exception: licensed slaughterhouses, meat-packing establishments, stockyards, rendering houses, those kept on land zoned agricultural, and those displayed for public exhibition.
(L) Fire hydrants. The owner and/or operator shall maintain the area around and adjacent to any fire hydrants on the premises, and shall keep the area unobstructed for a minimum of three feet from the hydrant.
(M) Diseased or dead trees. It shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or operator to remove any diseased or dead tree, or portion thereof, that poses a hazard to life or property; or a tree that harbors insects that have caused decay of the tree and causes the tree to pose a hazard to life or property.
(Ord. 023-013, passed 4-10-2023) Penalty, see § 158.998