Sec. 38-38Weeds, junk, etc., prohibited

(a) Persons shall keep their property free of those weeds and underbrush which create a health menace, fire hazard, or an unsafe or unsanitary condition as well as trash, garbage, junked vehicles, junked or abandoned appliances, or other things thereon which constitute a violation of the provisions of this article.

(b) It shall be unlawful for the owner, operator, or occupant of a dwelling, rooming house, building, or structure to use the premises of such property for the open storage of any abandoned motor vehicle, household appliance, glass, building material, building trash, or similar item. It shall be the duty and the responsibility of such owner, operator, or occupant to maintain the premises of such property and to remove from the premises all abandoned items as listed above, including, but not limited to, weeds, dead trees, trash, and garbage, upon notice from the city. In this subsection "abandoned motor vehicle" means (1) a motor vehicle that is in a state of disrepair and incapable of moving under its own power, or (2) a motor vehicle having no valid current license tag registration.

(c) Owners and occupants of property shall not permit weeds or grass within 150 feet of any building or structure to grow on such property to a height exceeding 18 inches.

(d) Owners and tenants of property or structures abutting a street, sidewalk, lane, or parking area on which the property or structure abuts shall maintain the property or structure clean and free of garbage and trash; however, city maintenance responsibility for public rights-of-way shall not be diminished by this section.

(e) Where parking in open areas is used jointly for the benefit of two or more owners or tenants, the responsibility for maintaining these parking areas free of the items prohibited by this section shall be the joint and severable responsibility of the owners and tenants of these premises.

History: (Ord. No. 2004-13, § 1.8, 9-2-2004)