Chapter Three of the ICC International Property Maintenance Code shall be amended as listed below:
(a) PM-302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six (6) inches. 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 and gardens.
(b) PM-302.8 Motor Vehicles. This paragraph shall be amended to read as follows: In residential areas no vehicle of any type shall undergo overhaul, body work or painting. No vehicle of any type shall be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, nor shall it be in the process of being stripped or dismantled. These provisions shall not apply to an occupant of a property working on a currently licensed vehicle registered to the occupant if the vehicle is within a building so as not to be visible from the street or neighboring properties.
Except for an automotive repair/service business or salvage yard legally operating under the requirements of the Zoning Code, no business premises shall contain any motor vehicles which are in a state of disrepair, major disassembly, nor any vehicle be in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Any automotive repair/service business or salvage yard legally operating under the requirements of the Zoning Code shall have a storage area conforming to PM-302.13 in which all vehicles which are in a state of disrepair, major disassembly, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled shall be stored.
(c) PM-302.9 Defacement of Property. This paragraph shall be amended to read as follows:
Whenever the Code Official becomes aware of the existence of graffiti on any structure or improvement within the City, he shall give, or cause to be given as provided for in this code, to the owner of the property, written notice of such violation and requiring the graffiti to be removed.
If an owner fails to remove the graffiti within the time specified on the notice and order, the Code Official shall remove or cause to be removed the graffiti and may employ the necessary labor to perform such work or cause it to be done by the appropriate City department. This remedy shall be in addition to the penalty provided in Chapter 1.
All expense incurred by the removal of the graffiti, together with an administrative charge of $50.00 for each notice processed, shall be reported to the Director of Finance, who shall mail a statement of the amount thereof to the owner of the property.
If after thirty (30) days, such amount remains unpaid, the Director of Finance shall certify the total amount of the expenses, the name of the owner of the land and a sufficient description of the premises to the County Auditor, to be entered on the tax duplicate, to be a lien on the land from the date of entry and to be collected as other taxes and assessments and returned to the City pursuant to O.R.C. 731.54 No person shall refuse to allow access to any premises for the purpose of removing graffiti or to interfere with the removal of such graffiti.
(d) PM-303.14 Insect Screens. This paragraph shall be amended to read as follows:
During the period from May 1 to September 30, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas, or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm) and every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.
(Ord. 97-2002. Passed 10-21-02.)
(e) PM-302.1.1 Maintenance of Exteriors of Property Areas. This section shall be added and shall read as follows:
The exterior of the property shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the standard set forth in this Code and so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to progressive deterioration and downgrading of the immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values.
(f) PM-302.4.1 Landscaping. This section shall be added and shall read as follows:
Lawns, hedges, and bushes shall be kept free from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to the public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor which depreciates any adjoining property. All yards, courts or lots shall be kept free of rubbish not appropriate to the area which may cause a fire hazard or may act as a breeding place for vermin or insects.
(g) PM-302.10 Removal of all Miscellaneous Rubbish. This section shall be added and shall read as follows:
All yards, courts or lots shall be kept free of unsightly refuse/rubbish which may cause a fire hazard or may act as a breeding place for vermin or insects.
(h) PM-303.1 General. This section shall be amended to read as follows:
The exterior of the premises, the exterior of residential and nonresidential structures, and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the standard set forth in this code and so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to progressive deterioration and downgrading of the immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values.
(i) PM-303.13 Window, skylight and doorframes. This section shall be amended to read as follows:
Every window, skylight, door and frame shall be kept in sound condition, good repair and weather tight. When the structure is unoccupied, windows shall be covered with standard residential window coverings to obscure visual observation of the interior of the structure from the street.
(Ord. 104-2006. Passed 11-20-06.)