§ 8-135. Exterior grounds

(a) Trash, debris, and objectionable matter. All exterior property shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition. It shall be unlawful to allow paper, wood, rocks, junk, appliances, furniture, dead grass, branches, trash debris, carrion, improper composting, rubber tires, bottles, scrap metal, vehicle parts, construction materials, fill materials, paving materials, infectious waste, hazardous waste, i.e. chemicals, oils, solvents, gasoline, paints, pesticides, cleaners, batteries, and other unwholesome matter, to accumulate or remain on any piece of property to include easements so as to create a potential harborage, or breeding place for rats, vermin, or insects, or in such a manner as to be oppressive or injurious to the public health or unpleasant and disagreeable in sight or odor to persons residing or occupying the premises or adjacent premises or to persons who may be in a public place or public right-of-way.

(b) Grading and drainage.

(1) All property shall be maintained so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant, foul, and offensive water thereon, or within or under any structure located thereon.

(2) No filling or excavation shall be performed or constructed on any property without city determination that there will be no adverse effect on an existing or planned drainage pattern on an adjacent property. If it appears that drainage problems may result from filling, excavation, improvements, or landscaping, plans indicating review and approval by a state licensed engineer must be submitted to the city by the property owner.

(3) It shall be unlawful to impede the flow of water into any gutter or drainage ditch.

(4) If dirt or any other fill material appears to the enforcement authority to be contaminated or poses a threat to the public health, the city shall require proof of no contamination by a licensed authority authorized to issue such opinion.

(5) The draining or discharging of pesticides, grease, petroleum products, paints, sewage, septic or grease trap waste, and toxic chemicals onto any property, streets, alleys, or sewers is prohibited.

(c) Sidewalks. All sidewalks, walkways, steps, and driveways located on all private property shall be maintained in a state of good repair. The owner and tenant of private property adjacent to all public sidewalks, walkways, and steps shall keep same free of mud, debris, or other obstructions that would impair or prevent their use.

(d) Insect and rodent control. Every owner and every tenant of a building, structure, or property shall prevent any condition which can provide harborage and breeding of insects, rats, ants, vermin, mosquitoes, or other pests which can create a public health hazard or a nuisance to said building, structure, or property or are otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare.

(e) Glare and direct illumination. Exterior lights placed or erected on private property shall be shielded, placed, or erected so as not to create a traffic hazard or a public nuisance. Exterior lights shall be located so as not to produce direct illumination across the bounding property lines.

(f) Trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. Trees, shrubs, plants, and other vegetation that are dead or which are considered by the enforcement authority to be hazardous to persons or property shall be removed by the property owner.

(g) Weeds and grass. Every owner and every tenant of property containing a building or structure, shall maintain such property clear from weeds, tall grass, or any other form of vegetation that is considered to be unsightly or objectionable matter which constitutes a public nuisance or is otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.

(h) Animal pens. All animal pens, runs, exercise areas, fenced areas, houses, structures and enclosures shall be kept clean, sanitary, free from odor and excrement, insects, and other unsightly or objectionable matter which constitutes a public nuisance or is otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare. Pens and housing for animals shall be kept in a state of good repair.

(i) Accumulations of firewood, lumber, boxes, building materials, etc. Any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones, pipes, firewood, or any other character of materials which may be used as a harborage by rats, rodents, or other vermin, or in which evidence of rats, rodents, or other vermin is found shall be separated from a fence owned by adjacent property owner at a minimum of three feet; and elevated not less than six inches above the ground, with a clear intervening space underneath.

(j) Fences.

(1) All fences shall be maintained structurally sound and not be out of vertical alignment more than 20 percent.

(2) All damaged, rotting, removed or missing sections shall be replaced with comparable materials to the remaining portion of the fence and shall be kept free from deterioration.

(3) A fence that has deteriorated to a condition that it is likely to fall or is considered to be hazardous to the public shall be repaired, replaced, or removed.

(4) Fences shall not be externally braced in lieu of replacing or repairing posts, columns, or other structural members.

(5) All damaged or missing parts of chain link or metal fencing shall be replaced or repaired.

(k) Accessory structures.

(1) Carports, awnings, patio covers, detached garages, sheds, storage buildings, benches, and other accessory structures shall be maintained structurally sound and free of deterioration.

(l) Open storage.

(1) Commercial and industrial. All properties located within a commercial development with open storage of materials, equipment, vehicles, etc. shall screen such storage from public view and adjoining residential property.

(2) Residential. Open storage shall not be permitted in the front yard, in a carport, or on a front porch on any residential dwelling. Open storage shall be screened from adjacent properties and the public view from right-of-ways by a six-foot solid wood screening fence. Open storage shall include furniture other than furniture designed for outside use, household items, products of a commercial trade or business enterprise, whether such items are used or new, items of salvage character such as scrap metal, papers, cans, lumber, and other building materials not currently being used or held for immediate use upon the premises.

(m) Burned structures.

(1) Whenever any building, structure or other property on the premises is partially burned, the owner or person in control of the premises shall within 30 days after completion of investigation by the fire department and insurance representatives, remove from the premises all refuse, debris, charred and partially burned lumber and material. If such building or structure shall be burned or damaged to such an extent that it is rendered incapable of being repaired, the owner or person in control shall within 60 days after completion of investigation by the fire department and insurance representatives, remove from the premises all the remaining portion of the building structure.

(2) If the building or structure is to be repaired, re-construction work shall begin within 60 days and progressively be completed in 120 days.

(Ord. No. 511, § VII, 4-3-2008)