(a) Definition. As used in this section "litter" includes any garbage, waste, peelings of vegetables or fruits, grass clippings, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, parts of automobiles, wagons, furniture, glass, oil of an unsightly or unsanitary nature, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature.
(ORC 731.51(B))
(b) Placing or Disposing of Litter Prohibited. No person shall, without lawful authority, place or dispose of litter in any manner, upon any public property or upon the premises of another. (Adopting Ordinance)
(c) Notice to Collect and Remove. Upon a finding by the Service Director that litter has been placed on lands in the City and has not been removed and constitutes a detriment to public health, the Director or his or her designated agent shall cause a written notice to be served upon the owner or person having charge of the littered land, notifying him or her that such litter must be collected and removed within five days after service of the notice. Service of notice shall be made by handing a written copy of the notice to such owner or person, by leaving it at his or her usual place of abode or by posting and leaving it in a conspicuous place on the littered land. If a copy of the notice is not handed to the owner or person, a copy of the notice shall also be mailed to his or her last known address by ordinary mail.
(Ord. 9-81. Passed 3-19-81.)
(d) Officials Authorized to Make Service and Return. Any police officer, clerk or other designated agent of the Director may make service and return of the notice provided for in division (c) of this section.
(ORC 731.52)
(e) Noncompliance; Remedy of City. If the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of the lands mentioned in Ohio R.C. 731.51 fails to comply with the notice required by such section, the legislative authority of a municipal corporation shall cause such noxious weeds to be cut and destroyed or such litter removed, and may employ the necessary labor to perform the task. All expenses incurred shall, when approved by the Director or his designated agent, be paid out of Municipal funds not otherwise appropriated.
(ORC 731.53)
(f) Collection of Costs. The Director or his designated agent shall make a written return to the County Auditor of his action under divisions (c), (d) and (e) of this section, with a statement of the charges for his services, the amount paid for the performance of such labor, the fees of the officers who made the service of the notice and return, and a proper description of the premises with a request that such amounts, when allowed, be entered upon the tax duplicate, shall be a lien upon such lands from the date of the entry, and shall be collected as other taxes and returned to the City according to law.
(ORC 731.54)
(g) Certain Lands Exempted. This section does not apply to land being used under a Municipal building or construction permit or license, a Municipal permit or license, or a conditional zoning permit or variance to operate a junk yard, scrap metal processing facility, or similar businesses, or a permit or license issued pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 3734, Ohio R.C. 4737.05 to 4737.12, inclusive, or Ohio R.C. Chapter 6111.
(ORC 731.51(B))
(h) Penalty. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.