(A) Definitions. NUISANCE VEGETATION shall include the following:
(1) Vegetation providing safe harborage for rats, mice, snakes or other vermin, on any parcel of land less than 1 acre in size that has a building constructed on it;
(2) Vegetation which obstructs the safe view of traffic at an intersection or driveway;
(3) Noxious weeds as defined by Minnesota state statute;
(4) Dead or dying trees or plants which may cause a hazardous situation if they fall;
(5) Any growth of weeds, growing grasses, brush or other rank vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height or any accumulation of dead weeds, grass, or brush on platted or developed property or within 100 feet of platted or developed property. DEVELOPED PROPERTY shall mean that the property has been improved with the construction of buildings, parking lots, or other facilities excluding underground utilities for sewer or water lines. This requirement shall not apply to:
(a) NATURAL AREAS which shall be defined as densely wooded areas or marshes;
(b) Any public land area, including parks, which is left in a natural state as a prairie, wetland, wooded area or meadow;
(c) Property zoned Agriculture and actively and primarily used for agricultural purposes;
(d) On private land, the areas of natural vegetation, and identified as a native/natural planting area or prairie restoration area as part of the overall landscaping plan approved by the City Building Inspector, including areas of native wild flowers and other similar plants as part of the overall natural landscaping plan; the fee for the review is set forth in § 34.01 as amended from time to time;
(e) Growing grasses within 10 feet of a body of water, or within a required buffer, including wetlands, ponds (including storm water ponds) and lakes;
(f) Growing grasses or natural vegetation that are located on a STEEP SLOPE, defined as lands having slopes over 12%; or
(g) Compost areas which meet the following conditions:
1. The compost is in a compost box which is of adequate construction to offer the decomposition of the material; and
2. The compost is screened from the view of adjacent property owners.
(B) Lawn maintenance.
(1) Once an area has been converted to turf grass the property owner, tenant, or occupant shall not allow the turf grass to exceed the height of 7 inches or be allowed to go to seed. Turf grass higher than 7 inches is nuisance vegetation.
(2) No property owner, tenant, or occupant shall allow any herbaceous vegetation growth upon the adjacent city right-of-way to grow to a height greater than 7 inches or to allow such vegetation to go to seed except as otherwise permitted herein. Doing so constitutes a nuisance violation.
(a) Exception: This requirement shall not apply to properties where the adjacent right-of-way is a rural ditch without curb and gutter.
(Ord. 2011-6-3, passed 6-14-2011; Am. Ord. 2017-10-1, passed 10-10-2017)