Common Code Violations

Not Keeping Your Property Clean

It is a code violation for any person owning real property to allow weeds to grow higher than six inches on such property than is permitted by this part or not to remove from any such property any cuttings of such weeds or any refuse, unsightly, or deleterious objects.

Standards of Weed Control

Uncontrolled weed growth may create a fire hazard, be a source of contamination or pollution of the water, be a breeding place or habitation for insects or rodents or other life forms deleterious to humans, and may be unsightly or deleterious to their surroundings.

Maintaining a Nuisance and Devaluing Area Property

No person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge of any property may maintain or keep any nuisance thereon, nor may any person keep or maintain such premises in any manner causing substantial diminution in the value of the other property in the neighborhood in which the property is located.

Definition of Nuisance on Property

The term nuisance is defined to mean any condition of use of premises or of building exteriors that are deleterious, injurious, noxious, or unsightly - this includes, but is not limited to, keeping or depositing on or scattering over the premises any of the following:

  • Abandoned discarded or unused objects or equipment such as furniture, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, cans, containers, automobiles, or machinery
  • Lumber, junk, trash, or debris

Obstructing the Street / Sidewalks

It is unlawful for a property owner adjacent to a public right-of-way to permit the continued existence of, anywhere upon a public street or sidewalk, anything which wholly or partially obstructs, impedes, or blocks use by pedestrians or vehicles. This prohibition includes trees, bushes, sidewalk raised by trees or other means, unleveled sidewalks, dirt, rocks, rubbish, construction materials, wood, trailers, or vehicles.

Trees, bushes or other growth, or branches, fruit or leaves thereof, which encroach directly upon the street or sidewalk, or within fourteen (14) feet above the street or eight (8)  feet above the sidewalk, are prohibited.

Maintaining Abandoned, Wrecked or Inoperative Vehicles on Your Property

An abandoned vehicle is any motor vehicle left unattended on any public or private property. A reasonable conclusion that any motor vehicle is abandoned includes, but not limited to, consideration of the amount of time the motor vehicle has been resting in the same place, the state of the motor vehicle condition; the state of the motor vehicle registration and licensing.

Unlawful Conduct

It is unlawful and is a public nuisance for any owner or tenant to cause or permit any motor vehicle abandoned to remain on any property or premises within the City for a period in excess of seven days, unless placed in an enclosed garage or concealed behind an opaque screening fence.

Not Promptly Removing Snow within 24 Hours

It is unlawful for the owner, occupant, lessor, or agent having charge or control of any property, building, lot, land, or any real estate abutting against any street to fail, refuse or neglect to remove promptly and effectively every snowfall from the sidewalk in front of such property. In any event, all such snow, ice, and hail must be removed within 24 hours of the end of the storm.

Open to Civil Action

Any area of a sidewalk where snow has not been removed as required in this subsection is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated by civil action.

Infringing on the Public Right of Way

It is unlawful to blow, shovel, or plow snow from private property onto a public street or right of way. It is unlawful for any person removing snow from the sidewalk to deposit dirt, leaves, or other such material in the gutter, so as to clog or prevent the free flow of water therein.

Possible Fines

A violation of this ordinance is punishable by imposition of a fine up to $100/day.