Village of Baldwin, WI Commercial Property

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to recognize the private and public benefits resulting from the safe, sanitary, and attractive maintenance of commercial buildings, structures, yards, or vacant areas. Attractive and well-maintained property will enhance the neighborhood and Village and provide a suitable environment for increasing physical and monetary values.

Minimum requirements. Every owner or operator shall improve and maintain all property under their control to comply with the following minimum requirements:

(1)

Drainage. All courts, yards, or other areas on the premises shall be properly graded to divert water away from any building or structure.

(2)

Weeds. All exterior property areas shall be kept free from noxious weeds as required by this Code. Where weed cutting is required, the Weed Commissioner shall perform said weed cutting and process the charge therefor as a special assessment against the benefitted property.

(3)

Debris. All exterior property areas shall be properly maintained in a clean and sanitary condition free from debris, rubbish or garbage, physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation, and animal feces. All animal feces shall be removed within 24 hours.

(4)

Fences, walks, and parking areas. Fences, other minor construction, walks, driveways, parking areas, and similar paved areas shall be properly maintained in a safe, sanitary, and substantial condition. Approved walks shall provide all-weather access to buildings or structures.

(5)

Exterior surfaces. Exterior surfaces of buildings and structures not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be treated with a protective coating of paint or other suitable preservative which will provide adequate resistance to weathering and maintain an attractive appearance. Any exterior surface treated with paint or other preservative shall be maintained so as to prevent chipping, cracking or other deterioration of the exterior surface or the surface treatment and to present an attractive appearance. All paint or other preservative shall be applied in a workmanlike fashion.

(6)

Yard areas. Yard areas of real estate shall not be permitted to deteriorate or remain in a condition that is not in accord with the following: Yard areas shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, free from any accumulation of combustible or noncombustible materials (which are not used as an integral part of the authorized business carried out on the premises), debris, or refuse. Unless in a properly zoned district and screened by a visual barrier at least five feet high, yards shall not be used to store appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters, water softeners, or building material not used within five days, or any unsightly bulk items, unless these items are raw materials used in the business carried out on the premises.

(7)

General requirements. Every foundation, exterior wall, and roof shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof and shall be kept in proper repair and shall be capable of affording privacy. Any hazardous sagging or bulging shall be properly repaired to a level or plumb position. All chimneys and exhaust piping shall be so constructed and maintained as to ensure that it safely and properly removes the products of combustion from the building.

(8)

Windows and doors. Every window, exterior door, and basement hatchway shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof and kept in proper repair. All door and window hardware shall be installed and maintained in proper working condition.

(9)

Outside stairs and porches. Every outside stair, every porch, and every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon, and shall be kept in proper condition and repair and shall present an attractive appearance. All exterior stairs and steps and every appurtenance thereto shall comply with the requirements specified in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

(10)

Removal of debris.

(a)

No person shall dispose of rocks, trees, stumps, waste building material, or other debris from land development, building construction, street grading, or installation of underground utilities upon the surface of any land in the Village, except at approved disposal sites.

(b)

No landowner shall allow an accumulation of rocks, trees, stumps, waste building material or other debris from land development, building construction, street grading, or installation of underground utilities upon the surface of his land for a period of more than 10 days.

(c)

All land filling operations shall be leveled off to permit the mowing of the weeds between June 1 and November 1. This includes the removal of stones, bottles, wire, and other debris that will interfere with mowing operations.