The owner shall comply with and address the following items in the property plan, as described in § 435.05, subd. 2:
(A) Appearance. All vacant buildings shall be so maintained and kept that they appear to be occupied.
(B) Securing. All vacant buildings shall be secured from outside entry by unauthorized persons or pests. Security shall be ensured by normal building amenities such as windows and doors having adequate strength to resist intrusion. All doors and windows shall remain locked. There shall be at least one operable door into every building and into each dwelling unit. Exterior walls and roofs shall remain intact without holes.
(1) Architectural (cosmetic) structural panels. Architectural structural panels may be used to secure windows, doors and other openings provided they are cut to fit the opening and match the characteristics of the building. Architectural panels may be of exterior grade-finished plywood or Medium Density Overlaid plywood (MDO) that is painted to match the building exterior or covered with a reflective material such as plexi-glass to simulate windows.
(2) Temporary securing. Untreated, exterior grade (CDX) plywood or similar structural panels may be used to secure windows, doors and other openings for a maximum period of 90 days. See Chapter 17, Appendix A, for boarding specifications.
(3) “Artistic” board-up. With prior approval of the Compliance Official, artistic options may be utilized to secure a vacant building.
(4) Emergency securing. The Compliance Official may take immediate steps to secure a vacant building at their discretion in emergency circumstances
(C) Fire safety.
(1) Fire protection systems. Owners of nonresidential vacant buildings shall maintain all fire protection systems, appliances and assemblies in operating condition and maintain Underwriter Laboratories (UL) monitoring of all systems.
(2) Removal of hazardous and combustible materials. The owner of any vacant building, or vacant portion thereof, shall remove all hazardous material and hazardous refuse that could constitute a fire hazard or contribute to the spread of fire.
(D) Plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixtures connected to an approved water system, an approved sewage system, or an approved natural gas utility system shall be installed in accordance with applicable codes and be maintained in sound condition and good repair or removed and the service terminated in the manner prescribed by applicable codes. The building’s water systems shall be protected from freezing.
(E) Electrical. Electrical service lines, wiring, outlets or fixtures not installed or maintained in accordance with applicable codes shall be repaired, removed or the electrical services terminated to the building in accordance with applicable codes.
(F) Lighting. All exterior lighting fixtures shall be maintained in good repair, and illumination shall be provided to the building and all walkways in the same manner as provided at the time the building was last occupied or as otherwise provided in the approved vacant building plan.
(G) Heating. Heating facilities or heating equipment in vacant buildings shall be removed, rendered inoperable, or maintained in accordance with applicable codes.
(H) Termination of utilities. The Compliance Official may require that water, sewer, electricity, or gas service to the vacant building be terminated or disconnected. Prior to the termination of any utility service, the city will provide written notice to the owner. No utility may be restored until consent is given by the Compliance Official. Utilities may be discontinued at the request of the owner or responsible party as part of the approved vacant building property plan. The Compliance Official may authorize immediate termination of utilities at their discretion in emergency circumstances and provide subsequent notice to the owner or responsible party.
(I) Signs. Obsolete or unused exterior signs and installation hardware shall be removed. Holes and penetrations shall be properly patched and painted to match the building. Surfaces beneath the signs that do not match the building shall be repaired, resurfaced, painted or otherwise altered to be compatible with the building surfaces. All signs shall be maintained in good condition and comply with the provisions of § 18X of this code.
(J) Exterior maintenance. The owner shall comply with all applicable property maintenance regulations and city codes including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Nuisances. The owner shall eliminate any activity on the property that constitutes a nuisance as defined by Chapter 10 and Chapter 17 of this code.
(2) Grass and weeds. Any weeds or grass shall be maintained at a height of no greater than six inches and in accordance with Chapter 10 of this code.
(K) Exterior structure maintenance. The owner shall maintain the vacant building in compliance with § 17.17 as determined to be necessary by the Code Official.
(L) Abandoned or junk vehicles. The owner shall keep the property free of unlicensed, inoperable, abandoned or junked vehicles as per § 17.17. The city may cause such vehicles to be removed.
(M) Storage and disposal of refuse. The storage and disposal of refuse shall comply with the requirements of § 10.01 of this code.
(N) Animals. The owner shall ensure that all animals, including domestic, exotic and feral, are removed from the property and handled in a humane manner as per § 10.10 of this code.
(O) Diseased, dead or hazardous trees. The owner shall remove diseased, dead or hazardous trees or branches from the property in accordance with § 17.17 of this code.
(P) Graffiti. The owner shall remove all graffiti from the property in accordance with § 17.17 of this code.
(Q) Abandoned pools. Swimming pools shall be covered and secured to prevent accidental entry, treated to prevent pest harborage, and properly drained and winterized as per § 17.17 of this code.
(S) Police protection systems. All alarm systems in any vacant building or portion thereof shall be maintained in operating condition.
(T) Loitering, criminal activities. Loitering or engaging in criminal activities is prohibited in the vacant building or on the real property upon which the vacant building is located. The owner or responsible party shall not allow these activities and shall take immediate actions to eliminate these conditions upon notification by the city or upon discovery.
(U) Emergency abatement. The Compliance Official may authorize immediate abatement of any public nuisance or correction of any maintenance item if the Compliance Official determines that conditions exist that present an imminent threat to the public health and safety in accordance with § 17.17 of this code,
(V) Other codes. The property owner or responsible party shall comply with all other city codes and applicable regulations.
(Ord. passed 10-22-2019)