[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Board of Stephenson County 3-12-1985 by Ord. No. 85-65 (Ch. 13, Art. IV, of the 1977 Code); amended in its entirety 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-08-1450. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Nuisances — See Ch. 309.
Solid waste — See Ch. 346.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 372.
Off-road vehicles — See Ch. 380.
Zoning — See Ch. 400.
A motorized conveyance moving on wheels, runners, tracks, or the like as a cart, sled, automobile, or tractor/lawn.
Vehicles that are not self-propelled such as utility trailers and other types of trailers designed or used to store or haul equipment and materials.
Any motor vehicle as defined in §§ 376-1 and 376-2 or part thereof which is inoperable or deteriorated or in need of repair, and is located upon private property in this County is hereby declared to be a nuisance, unless any of the following exemptions in § 376-4 are met. "Inoperable motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle from which, for a period of at least seven days, the engine, wheels or other parts have been removed, or on which the engine, wheels or other parts have been altered, damaged or otherwise so treated that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power. "Inoperable motor vehicle" shall not include a motorized vehicle which has been rendered temporarily incapable of being utilized or driven under its own motor power in order to perform ordinary service or repair operations.
Inoperable motor vehicles shall not include a motor vehicle which is:
A. 
Kept within an enclosed building or concealed behind a fence when not in use.
B. 
When applicable, properly registered with current license plates and otherwise in good running condition, in that the motor vehicle as defined in § 376-1 is able to start, move forward and backward under its own power.
C. 
On the premises of a legal place of business engaged in the wrecking, junking and repairing of motor vehicles.
D. 
Rendered temporarily incapable of being driven under its own motor power in order to perform ordinary service or repair operations for a period of not more than 30 days.
E. 
Operable historic motor vehicles over 25 years of age as defined in § 376-1.
F. 
Motor vehicles on the premises of an agricultural business owner or a farm as defined in §§ 400-6 and 400-39B of this Code.
All inoperable motor vehicles are deemed to be a public nuisance, regardless of whether such vehicle is located on public or on private property.
Every person who receives, in person or by mail from an employee or official of Stephenson County, a notice to remove an inoperable motor vehicle under his or her control shall remove such vehicle within 15 days of receipt of said notice. Any person failing to remove an inoperable motor vehicle within the above time limit shall, upon conviction, be subject to penalties as set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, Penalties, § 1-11.