Purpose. Overgrown lots and concentrations of trash and debris on a property can create hazardous, unsafe or unhealthy conditions and constitute a public nuisance. It is the intent of this provision to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public, preserve property values and rights of the individual and community.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep on their front porch furniture designed for interior use, waste, lumber, junk, trash, debris, abandoned objects, bedding, packing boxes, cans, containers, accumulation of substantial quantities of loose earth, rocks, pieces of concrete or cement or pieces of metal, appliances, automotive machine parts or any collection of materials that can be considered combustible or that can harbor rats or other pests. After notice of violation of this section, it shall be unlawful to allow the items to remain on the porch of the occupant or owner for five business days from the personal delivery of said notice or ten business days from the mailing of said notice.
(Ord. 99-12, passed 6-8-99)
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to have on their premises material that creates a littered condition, such as dilapidated furniture, discarded appliances, broken machinery, dilapidated building materials, discarded automotive parts, tires or any other similar items which are not completely enclosed within a building or dwelling. After notice of violation of this section, it shall be unlawful to allow the items to remain on the property of the occupant or owner for five business days from the personal delivery of said notice or ten business days from the mailing of said notice. This shall not apply to authorized junk dealers or establishments licensed to engage in repair, rebuilding, reconditioning or salvaging of equipment.
(C) It shall be unlawful for the owner and/or occupant of a property to fail to cut grass, weeds, and other overgrowth vegetation on property when the grass, weeds and other overgrowth vegetation is of a greater height than eight inches on average, or to permit the property to serve as a breeding place for mosquitoes, as a refuge for rats and snakes, as a collecting place for trash and litter, or as a fire hazard, any one of which situations is declared to be a nuisance. It shall be the duty of the owner and occupant to cut and remove all grass, weeds, and other overgrowth vegetation as often as necessary.
(1) Vacant, unimproved lots adjacent to improved properties, except those as defined as naturally wooded, shall be cut in their entirety as often as necessary in order to meet the requirements listed above.
(2) Vacant, unimproved lots over one acre and adjacent to improved properties shall be cut within 100 feet of all adjacent improved property, and within 100 feet of any street frontage, as often as necessary in order to meet the requirements listed above.
(D) It shall be unlawful for the owner of property on which is located a NATURALLY WOODED LOT, defined as a lot densely wooded with trees, scrubs and overgrowth where equipment cannot maneuver because of the density of its vegetation, to permit the property to serve as a breeding place for mosquitoes, as a refuge for rats and snakes, as a collecting place for trash and litter, or as a fire hazard, any one of which is declared to be a nuisance. It shall be the duty of the owner to cut and remove all grass, weeds, and other overgrowth vegetation as often as necessary.
(E) Accumulation of trash and debris. It shall also be unlawful for any owner or occupant of a property to allow any concentration of rubbish, trash, junk, mattresses, boxes, old clothes, rags or any other combustible material or objects of like kind that may serve as a breeding place or refuge for mosquitoes, rats and snakes, or as a fire hazard.
(F) Responsibility for sidewalk, curb and grass strip maintenance. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or occupant of a property to ensure that the sidewalk and curb abutting their property are kept clear of trash, debris and vegetation of any kind, in accordance herein, and that the grass strip between the sidewalk and curb remain mowed at all times during the growing season.
(Ord. 99-15, passed 6-8-99; Am. Ord. 10-07, passed 4-13-10; Am. Ord. 16-09, passed 10-11-16; Am Ord. 17-013, passed 7-11-17) Penalty, see § 93.99