(a) Freedom from Hazards and Unsanitary Conditions. The exterior of the premises and all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances and any hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, free of unsanitary conditions, and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner or operator. It shall be the duty of the owner or operator to keep the premises free of hazards which include but are not limited to the following.
(b) Refuse. Refuse or any accumulation of brush, broken glass, stumps and roots that present a safety hazard, and includes garbage, trash and debris which presents an unsanitary and/or safety hazard.
(c) Natural Growth. "Natural growth" means dead trees and limbs or other natural growth which, by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage, constitutes a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof.
(d) Overhangings. "Overhangings" means loose and overhanging objects which, by reason of location above ground level, constitute a danger of falling on persons in the vicinity thereof.
(e) Foundation Walls. Foundation walls shall be kept structurally sound, free from defects and damage and capable of bearing imposed loads safely.
(f) Chimneys and Flue Vent Attachments. Chimneys and all flue and vent attachments thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, free from defects and so maintained as to capably perform at all times the functions for which they were designed and the same shall be capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(g) Exterior Appearance of Residential Premises and Structures. The exterior of the premises, and exterior of dwelling 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 residential standards of the immediate neighborhood so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a deterioration, fire hazard or nuisance for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values, including the following:
(1) Storage of commercial and industrial material. There shall not be stored or used at a location visible from the sidewalk, street or other public areas, equipment and materials relating to commercial or industrial uses, unless permitted under the Zoning Ordinances, for the premises.
(2) Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitutes a deteriorating factor depreciating adjoining property and impairing the good residential character of the immediate neighborhood.
(3) Signs. All signs permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair and printed matter, pictures or illustrations contained therein shall be completely maintained or when no longer in use, completely removed.
(4) General maintenance. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure, including surfaces thereon shall be kept painted where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance, or surface coated with a protective coating or treated to prevent rot and decay. The same shall be maintained free of broken windows, crumbling stone or brick, peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance to the end that the property itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining properties and the immediate neighborhood protected.
(5) Roofs, gutters and downspouts. All drainage shall be handled by suitable collectors and downspouts connected to a public storm sewer. Where storm sewer or other storm drainage outlet is not available, downspouts may discharged into splash blocks or other devices, provided that no excess water will flow into adjoining property or over sidewalks. Connection of any pipe carrying roof water or yard drainage to a sanitary sewer is prohibited.
(6) Design schemes. Garish design schemes must be modified to eliminate obvious negative impacts on surrounding properties.
(h) Exterior Appearance of Nonresidential Premises and Structures. The exterior of the premises 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 standards of the immediate neighborhood so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a deterioration, fire hazard or nuisance for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values, including the following:
(1) Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view .
(2) Signs and billboards. All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use, shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has peeled or cracked shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. All nonoperative or broken electrical signs shall be repaired or shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith.
(3) Windows. All windows exposed to public view shall be kept free of foreign substances except when necessary in the course of changing displays. No display areas or other areas shall be ordinarily exposed to public view unless such areas are first screened from public view by drapes, venetian blinds or other permanent rendering of the windows opaque to the public view. All screening of interiors shall be maintained in a clean and attractive manner and in a good state of repair.
(4) Store fronts. All store fronts shall be kept in good repair, painted where required, and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. In the event repairs to a store front become necessary such repairs shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the store front in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area or areas. Any cornice visible above a store front shall be kept painted, where required, and in good repair.
(5) Removal of signs or advertising. Except for "For Rent" signs, any temporary sign or other paper advertising material glued or otherwise attached to a window or windows otherwise exposed to public view shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which it is erected, or within sixty days after erection, whichever shall occur sooner.
Except during the course of repairs or alterations, no more than one- third of the square footage of any single window or single window display area shall be devoted to signs or other temporary advertising material attached to such window or windows or otherwise exposed to public view.
(6) Awnings and marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extends over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair, and shall not constitute a nuisance or safety hazard. In the event such awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed forthwith. In the event such awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or of similar materials, such cloth or plastic, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
(i) Residential Exterior Structural Soundness and General Maintenance. Every dwelling and accessory structure and every part thereof shall be kept structurally sound and in a state of good repair to avoid safety, health or fire hazards including:
(1) Painting and other protective coating. All exposed surfaces susceptible to decay shall be kept painted at all times or otherwise provided with a protective coating sufficient to prevent deterioration and rot.
(2) Exterior walls, sidings and roofs. Exterior walls, sidings and roofs shall be kept structurally sound, in good repair and free from unsafe defects. Damaged materials shall be repaired or replaced; places showing signs of substantial rot, deterioration or excessive corrosion are to be restored and protected.
(j) Nonresidential Exterior Structural Soundness and General Maintenance. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure, including fences, signs and store fronts, shall be maintained in good repair and all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance or surface coated with a protective coating or treated to prevent rot and decay. All peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance shall be corrected to the end that the property itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining property and the immediate neighborhood protected.
(k) Reconstruction of Walls and Sidings. All reconstruction of walls and sidings shall be of standard quality and appearance commensurate with the character of the properties in the same area and on both sides of the street on which the premises front, such that the materials used will not be of a kind that by their appearance under preappraisal practices and standards, will depreciate the value of neighboring and adjoining premises as aforesaid.
(l) Freedom from Infestation. All parts of the premises shall be maintained so as to prevent infestation.
(Ord. 703. Passed 2-11-85.)