(a) Unoccupied or inoperative structures, and the lot upon which any structure is located, as well as unoccupied lots, shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any such lot shall be provided with grass or other appropriate ground cover or landscaping material so as to assure absorption of rainfall and prevent erosion and rapid runoff of surface water. The owner shall cut and maintain all grass or other ground cover and remove all rubbish and weeds from the premises.
(b) If any structure or use shall become unoccupied or inoperative and not maintained according to provisions of this chapter for a period more than one hundred eighty (180) days, it shall be presumed to be a nuisance affecting or endangering surrounding property values and to be detrimental to the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, property or general welfare of the community and shall be abated.
(c) Whenever the Zoning Inspector shall find any structure to be unoccupied and an inoperative nuisance, notice shall be given in the same manner as service of summons in civil cases or by certified mail addressed to the owner of record of the premises at his last known address or to the address to which tax bills are sent, or by a combination of the foregoing methods, to abate such unoccupied or inoperative nuisance condition within thirty days either by placing the structure in operation in accordance with this Section, adapting and using the structure for another use permitted in the Zoning District or by razing the structure, removing all debris, any signs, goods, supplies and equipment, and filling depressions to the grade level of the lot, provided, however, that if the structure is in use at the time notice is given and remaining in operation for ninety consecutive days, the provisions of this Section shall not apply.
(d) Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner to comply with the notice to abate such unoccupied and inoperative nuisance, the Zoning Inspector shall advise the Law Director of all the facts and the Law Director shall proceed to exercise on behalf of the City any remedy which shall then be available to it to secure an abatement of such unoccupied or inoperative nuisance, including, but not limited to, any remedy that pertains to the abatement of a public nuisance, and to recover any damages or enforce any penalties which may be recovered or imposed at the instance of the City, including all damages reasonable under Ohio R.C. 715.26 and 715.261.
(e) The remedies contained in this section shall be cumulative and shall apply in addition to any other remedial sections in this Code.
(Ord. 04-60. Passed 10-18-04.)