[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Louisa 5-28-1981 as Ch. 12 of the 1981 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Various nuisances are defined and prohibited in other chapters of this Code, and it is the intent of the Town Council in enacting this chapter to make it supplemental to those other chapters in which nuisances are defined and prohibited. The provisions of this chapter relating to the abatement of nuisances shall be regarded as alternative methods and procedures for the abatement of nuisances in those instances where other methods and procedures for abatement are provided.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, harbor, commit or maintain or to suffer to be caused, harbored, committed or maintained any nuisance as defined by the statutory or common law of this state or defined by this Code or other ordinance of the Town at any place within the Town.
A. 
The following acts when committed or conditions when existing within the Town are hereby defined and declared to be nuisances:
(1) 
An act done or committed or aided or assisted to be done or committed by any person or any substance, being or thing kept, maintained, placed or found in or upon any public or private place which is injurious or dangerous to the public health or safety.
(2) 
All buildings, bridges or other structures of whatever character kept or maintained or which are permitted by any person owning or having control thereof to be kept or maintained in a condition unsafe, dangerous, unhealthy, injurious or annoying to the public.
(3) 
All trees and other appendages of or to realty kept or maintained or which are permitted by any person owning or having control thereof to be kept or maintained in a condition unsafe, dangerous, unhealthy, injurious or annoying to the public.
(4) 
All ponds or pools of stagnant water and all foul or dirty water or liquid when discharged through any drain, pipe or spout or thrown into or upon any street, public place or lot to the injury or annoyance of the public.
(5) 
All obstructions caused or permitted on any street or sidewalk to the danger or annoyance of the public and all stones, rubbish, dirt, filth, slops, vegetable matter or other article thrown or placed by any person on or in any street, sidewalk or other public place which in any way may cause any injury or annoyance to the public.
(6) 
All sidewalks, gutters or curbstones permitted to remain in an unsafe condition or out of repair.
(7) 
All stables, cattle yards, hog, sheep or cow pens or yards for poultry permitted by the owner thereof or the person responsible therefor to be in such a condition as to become offensive, annoying or injurious to the public.
(8) 
All houses or buildings used for special storage of powder, dynamite or other explosive substances, except those maintained pursuant to a permit issued by competent authority.
B. 
The nuisances described in this section shall not be construed as exclusive, and any act of commission or omission and any condition which constitutes a nuisance by statute or common law of this state, when committed, omitted or existing within the Town, is hereby declared to constitute a nuisance.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to cause inspections to be made from time to time of all portions of the Town to determine whether any condition exists or activity is being practiced which constitutes a nuisance, and he shall cause an investigation to be made upon complaint made by any person.
Police officers shall have the right to enter upon private premises for the purposes specified in § 109-4 upon compliance with all applicable provisions of law. Unless it appears probable that advance warning would defeat the purpose of such entry, occupants of premises to be entered shall be given reasonable notice in advance, and, in any case, it shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to prevent such entry which is sought to be made in compliance with law.
If at any time the Chief of Police shall find that an activity or practice which constitutes a nuisance is occurring within the Town, he shall promptly and by the most expeditious means notify the violator to cease and desist forthwith.
If at any time the Chief of Police shall find that a condition which constitutes a nuisance exists within the Town, he shall give notice, in writing, to the owner, occupant or person in charge of the premises upon which such condition exists, stating therein the condition which constitutes a nuisance and directing such addressee to remedy the condition within the time stated in such notice, which shall be not more than 10 days. It shall be unlawful for any such owner, occupant or person in charge to fail to comply with the terms of such notice, provided that any owner, occupant or person in charge may, within two days from the service thereof, appeal to the Town Council, in which case the terms of such notice shall be stayed pending action of the Town Council, which shall be final, and provided, further, that if the Chief of Police shall state in such notice that the condition which constitutes a nuisance is such as to be an imminent hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the public or any person within or near the premises upon which such nuisance exists, then the addressee shall comply with the terms of such notice.
A. 
Upon the failure of any person to whom notice has been given pursuant to § 109-7 to comply with the terms of such notice or with the terms imposed by the Town Council on appeal, as the case may be, the Chief of Police shall forthwith direct the appropriate Town officer to remedy the condition which is the subject of such notice, and the expense incurred by the Town in so doing shall be charged to the addressee of such notice, to be collected as Town taxes. Such expenses shall constitute a lien upon the premises where such condition occurred, to be collected as Town taxes are collected if not otherwise first paid to the Town.
B. 
Abatement by the Town of any condition which constitutes a nuisance and reimbursement to the Town of expenses incurred thereby shall not bar prosecution for maintenance of a nuisance.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit any police officer from arresting any person for committing or maintaining a nuisance when such arrest is made pursuant to law.