It is unlawful for the owner of any lot or piece of property or ground in the city to permit or suffer any conditions to exist on said property which conditions would cause the same to become detrimental to health, benefit, welfare and safety of the public and the community, or a hazard to traffic, or which creates a fire hazard to the danger of property, which conditions would constitute a nuisance. The following conditions are declared to be nuisances:
A. The suffering or permitting of trash, chemical or liquid waste, runoff or ponding, putrid substances, either animal or vegetable, to accumulate on said property so as to cause the same to emit offensive or noxious odors therefrom, to attract or to serve as a haven for rodents, vermin and stray animals, or to create a health, safety, fire or traffic hazard. For the purposes of this chapter and section, the term "trash" shall mean any refuse, litter, ashes, leaves, debris, paper, combustible materials, rubbish, offal, or waste, or matter of any kind or form which is uncared for, discarded, or abandoned, or any dilapidated building materials, toys or miscellaneous household or garden items between the street and building limit line unless behind a sightproof fence at or behind property line.
B. The permitting or suffering of any lot, yard, parkway or sidewalk, or the space abutting thereon, to the center of the street or to the center of the alley, which is owned, occupied or controlled by any person who is the owner, occupant, or agent of the owner, to become covered or overgrown with weeds or grass or other injurious growth or accumulating so as to become in a condition which is injurious to the health, welfare and safety to the public and community or which creates a fire or traffic hazard to the same. For the purposes of this chapter and section, the term "weed" shall mean to include, but not be limited to, poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac and all vegetation at any state of maturity which: 1) exceeds twelve inches (12") in height, except healthy trees, shrubs, or produce for human consumption grown in a tended and cultivated garden, unless such trees and shrubbery by their density or location constitute a detriment to the health, benefit and welfare and safety of the public and community, or a hazard to traffic or created a fire hazard to property, or otherwise interfere with the mowing of said weeds; 2) regardless of height, harbors, conceals or invites deposits or the accumulation of refuse or trash; 3) harbors rodents, vermin or pests; 4) gives off unpleasant or noxious odors; 5) constitutes a fire or traffic hazard; or 6) is dead or diseased.
C. The suffering or permitting of any cellar, stable, henhouse, dog kennel, or any place where any animals are kept or any water closet or privy vault thereon to become in such a condition as to emit offensive odors or to be injurious or dangerous to the health of the neighborhood.
D. The excavating, dredging, grading, regrading, landfilling, berming, diking or other manmade disturbing changes to improved or unimproved real property which, by such actions, will increase or tend to increase the erosion of soil and movement of sedimentation into, onto or through the streets, gutters, catch basins, culverts, drainage channels or upon adjoining or neighboring property interfering with circumstances which may result in injury to persons or property; provided, however, this section shall not apply to the following activities:
1. Agricultural or farming operations which constitute the principal use of the land;
2. Minor land disturbing activities such as home gardens, individual home landscaping, customary and incidental repairs and maintenance work;
3. Routine maintenance or repair work on public or private roads, utility easements and rights of way;
4. Emergency changes made on public or private property which are necessary for the preservation of life, health or property;
5. An individual building lot of one-half (1/2) acre or less which is undergoing the development or redevelopment process as a single unit.
E. The suffering or permitting of dilapidated, uncared for, discarded or abandoned building materials, toys, miscellaneous household or garden items, or automotive or mechanical parts on any lot, yard, driveway, sidewalk, or porch, patio or courtyard unless behind a sightproof fence at or behind the property line.
F. Allowing the collection or storage of used or useless tires outside the confines of any structure except under the following conditions:
1. On a combustible surface the tires shall be in a completely enclosed metal trailer elevated a minimum of eighteen inches (18") aboveground; or
2. On a noncombustible surface, tires shall be stored in an enclosed trailer.
G. Allowing the display for the purpose of selling new or used tires to exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross floor space of the business. (Ord. 1071 §1, 2009: Ord. 793 §1, 1996: Ord. 780 §1, 1996: Ord. 663 §1, 1987: Ord. 562 §1, 1983: Ord. 529 §1, 1982: Ord. 417 §1, 1976: prior code §12-9)