(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
LITTER. Trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage, paper, rags and ashes; wood, plaster, cement brick or stone building rubble; grass, leaves and worthless vegetation; abandoned and junked automobiles, automobile bodies, chassis and parts and offal and dead animals.
NOXIOUS WEEDS. Bindweed, puncture vine, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, perennial pepper grass, Russian knapweed, Johnson grass, nodding or musk thistle, quack grass, perennial sow thistle, horse nettle, bun thistle, buckthorn, hemp plant and ragweed. NOXIOUS WEEDS also shall mean and include any weed designated and listed in regulations promulgated by the State Director of Agriculture.
(Prior Code, § 4-402)
(B) Declaration of nuisance. All litter and noxious weeds and any grass or worthless vegetation 12 inches or more in height are hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(Prior Code, § 4-403)
(C) Litter and worthless vegetation.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any owner, agent, occupant, tenant or person in possession, charge or control of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries to fail or refuse to keep such lot or ground free of litter or noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more, to prevent litter from being carried or deposited by the elements beyond such lot or ground or to allow litter to remain on such lot or ground, other than in proper receptacles provided therefor.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any owner, agent, occupant, tenant or person in possession, charge or control of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries to permit, allow or maintain thereon any growth of noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more.
(Prior Code, § 4-404)
(D) Litter and worthless vegetation, duty of owner.
(1) It shall be the duty of any owner, agent, occupant, tenant or person in possession, charge or control of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries to remove and clear all litter from such lot or ground, together with that area between the property line and the curbed, paved or traveled roadway line.
(2) It shall be the duty of any owner, agent, occupant, tenant or person in possession, charge or control of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries to cut or clear from such lot or ground, together with that area between the property line and the curbed, paved or traveled roadway line, noxious weeds and grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more. Such noxious weeds and/or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more shall be cut as close to ground level as reasonably possible and shall be maintained so that at any time the same does not exceed 12 inches or more above the ground. The cuttings shall be raked and removed from such lot or ground.
(Prior Code, § 4-405)
(E) Dropping or depositing of litter or worthless vegetation. It shall be unlawful for any person, while transporting or hauling, or causing to be transported or hauled, litter or noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more, to throw, drop or deposit or cause or allow to be thrown, dropped or deposited on any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries, any such litter or noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more.
(Prior Code, § 4-406)
(F) Worthless vegetation, cost of reimbursement for violation. In the event that any owner, agent, occupant, tenant or person in possession, charge or control of any lot or ground, or any part of any lot or ground located within the city’s boundaries fails to cut noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more or fails to remove litter or noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more, or causes litter or noxious weeds or grass or worthless vegetation which has reached a height of 12 inches or more and who has received notice to abate and remove such nuisance from the city, has not done so during the period stated and has not requested a hearing, the city may have such work done and may levy and assess the cost and expenses of the work done upon the lot or piece of ground so benefited in the same manner as other special taxes for improvements are levied and assessed.
(Prior Code, § 4-407)
(Ord. 863, passed 9-11-2007) Penalty, see § 91.99