[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of East Greenwich 11-14-1996 by Ord. No. 640 (Secs. 4-81 to 4-87 of
the 1993 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junkyards — See Ch. 138.
Minimum housing standards for rental dwellings — See Ch. 191.
STATE LAW REFERENCES
Authority to adopt minimum housing standards — See
R.I.G.L. § 45-24.2-1 et seq.
Fresh Water Wetlands Act — See
R.I.G.L. § 2-1-18 et seq.
The requirements of this chapter are adopted
pursuant to the authority granted by R.I.G.L. § 45-24.2-1
et seq., and are deemed necessary for the health, safety and welfare
of the citizens of East Greenwich.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
public health, safety and morals and for the purpose of making dwellings
and dwelling places safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation, and
to prevent blighted and substandard housing conditions.
When used herein, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:
Any building or structure or part thereof that is used, occupied
or intended to be used or occupied for human habitation.
A lot of land which is improved with a dwelling unit.
All exposed surfaces of dwelling units which
have been adversely affected by exposure or other causes shall be
repaired and coated, treated or sealed so as to protect them from
serious deterioration.
No owner or occupant of any occupied residential
lot shall allow grass or weeds to become overgrown beyond the height
of 12 inches, or permit the accumulation of garbage, trash, junk or
other debris, or yard waste so that the citizens of the Town shall
be safe from fire, the breeding of rodents, vermin or obnoxious insects.
A.
Nothing within this chapter shall prohibit the use
of property for bona fide, permitted agricultural purposes, home-use
composting, or similar uses within zones where such uses are allowed.
B.
Areas subject to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management's jurisdiction under the Fresh Water Wetlands Act,[1] drainage and conservation easement areas, and natural
wooded areas on individual house lots shall not be subject to this
chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See R.I.G.L. § 2-1-18
et seq.
A.
Upon a finding by the Building Official that property
within the Town is in such condition as to be in violation of the
requirements of this chapter, he shall give certified notice thereof
to the owner or occupant of such property to comply with the requirements
of this chapter within 30 days after service of such notice. Such
notice shall identify the property by address and state the condition
thereon found to be in violation of this chapter.
B.
Upon failure of the owner or occupant of such premises
to remedy the conditions existing in violation of the requirements
hereof within 30 days after service of notice, the Building Official
may employ reasonable methods to remedy the condition, including employment
of agents to cut the grass, trim overgrown trees and shrubs, and/or
remove trash, debris and yard waste.
C.
Cleanup costs incurred by the Town shall become a
lien against such property to the same extent and character as the
lien for real estate taxes, with penalty and interest and with the
same right of collection and tax sale as apply to tax liens.
