[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of the Township of Putnam 4-17-1991 by Ord. No. 22 (Ch. 6 of the 2004 Township Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Municipal civil infractions — See Ch. 55.
The purpose of this chapter is to secure the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the residents and property owners of the Township of Putnam, by the prohibition of whatever annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, comfort or repose of the public; offends public decency; interferes with, obstructs or renders dangerous any street, highway, navigable lake or stream; or in any way renders the public insecure in life or property. Public nuisances shall include, but not be limited to, whatever is forbidden by any provisions of this chapter. No person shall commit, create, or maintain any nuisance.
No person shall have in his possession, either inside or outside of any building, structure, or dwelling, in a place accessible to children, any abandoned, unattended or discarded icebox, refrigerator or any other similar airtight container of any kind that has a snap latch or other locking device thereon, without first removing the snap latch or other locking device, or the doors, from such icebox, refrigerator, or other similar container.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also MCLA § 750.493d, Removal of locking devices from abandoned, etc., iceboxes or refrigerators.
A. 
Junk automobiles include any motor vehicle that meets any of the following criteria:
(1) 
A vehicle that has been unlicensed for use upon the highways of the State of Michigan for a period in excess of 30 days;
(2) 
Any motor vehicle that has been inoperative for any reason for a period in excess of 30 days;
(3) 
Any vehicle that has had one or more wheels removed for a period in excess of 30 days;
(4) 
Any vehicle that has had the engine removed from the vehicle for a period in excess of 30 days; or
(5) 
Any vehicle that has removed from it any part necessary for the vehicle to be operative on the highways of the State of Michigan for a period in excess of 30 days.
B. 
Junk automobiles prohibited. No person shall store or cause to be stored junk automobiles on any property in the Township of Putnam, except in a completely enclosed, permanent building unless there is in force a valid junkyard license issued by the appropriate governmental agency.
A. 
"Junk" is defined to include parts of machinery or motor vehicles, unused stoves or other appliances stored in the open, remnants of wood, metal or other castoff material of any kind, whether or not the same could be put to any reasonable use.
B. 
No person shall store or accumulate or cause to be stored or accumulated junk, trash, or refuse of any kind.
[Amended 11-19-2014 by Ord. No. 64]
A. 
Each of the following conditions regarding structures is hereby considered a nuisance:
(1) 
Any structure or any part thereof that is overcrowded or not provided with adequate means of egress or ingress;
(2) 
Any structure that does not have adequate facilities for the disposal of human excreta or other sewage;
(3) 
Any structure that does not have a reasonably necessary amount of clean water for use on the premises;
(4) 
Any structure that is not adequately ventilated, drained, cleaned, and lighted;
(5) 
Any structure, yard, or lot that is conductive to the harboring or breeding of insects, vermin, rats or other rodents;
(6) 
All cellars, foundations, and/or excavations for any building, the bottom of which contains stagnant or putrid water;
(7) 
An unclean structure, yard, or lot that includes any unreasonable accumulation of garbage, rubbish, ashes, branches, leaves, or yard clippings;
(8) 
A structure that has light, air, or sanitation facilities that are inadequate to protect the health, safety, or general welfare of those who live or may live within;
(9) 
A structure, or part thereof, that is likely to partially or entirely collapse, or some part of the foundation or underpinning is likely to fall or give way so as to injure persons or damage property;
(10) 
A structure that has become vacant, dilapidated, and open at door or window, leaving the interior of the structure exposed to the elements or accessible to entrance by trespassers or animals or open to casual entry;
(11) 
A structure that has settled to such an extent that walls or other structural portions have less resistance to winds than is required in the case of new construction;
(12) 
A structure, or any portion thereof, that is partially completed, unless it is in the active process of construction and/or completion in accordance with a valid building permit;
(13) 
A hole, excavation, shaft, pit, trench, partially constructed basement, or other nonnatural opening in the ground, if it is not filled in with dirt or safely and sufficiently covered or fenced with a good and substantial fence at a height of not less than four feet so as to prevent access by an unauthorized person; and
(14) 
A hole, excavation, shaft, pit, trench, partially constructed basement, or other nonnatural opening in the ground that is accumulating stagnant or putrid water.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for an owner or agent to maintain or occupy an unsafe structure.
It shall be unlawful for any person to dump rubbish or waste materials on any land in Putnam Township except in and on public or private dumping grounds as may be provided for that purpose. It shall be unlawful for any person to dump rubbish or waste materials within the right-of-way of any public street, highway, or park. All public or private dumping grounds shall be located not less than 100 feet from any public street, highway, or park; nor less than 500 feet from any inhabited buildings and/or recorded residential subdivision. Such dumping grounds shall be reached by a suitable service road of adequate width to permit safe travel. All such dumping grounds shall be burned, leveled and covered with a layer of dirt as often as necessary to eliminate odors and minimize rats and vermin.
[1]
Editor's Note: This section was originally adopted 8-21-1963 as Section II of Ord. No. 2.
[Amended 2-15-1995 by Ord. No. 22-1; 4-19-2000 by Ord. No. 22A]
A. 
A person violating this chapter is responsible for a municipal civil infraction as provided in Chapter 55.
B. 
Any person or entity guilty of violating this chapter shall also be subject to civil proceedings for damages and/or injunctive relief by the Township or by any person or entity injured or damaged by such violation. Commencement of any such proceedings shall not constitute an election of remedies.
All persons or entities who/that own, manage, lease, rent or occupy any structure or the real property upon which the nuisance exists, shall be equally responsible for keeping the structures and property in a clean and habitable condition free of all nuisances. Each party having any of the interests mentioned above shall have the responsibility of taking all necessary precautions to prevent any nuisance or other condition detrimental to public health, safety or general welfare from arising thereon.