[Amended 5-1-1995 by FMC-302]
The provisions of this article shall apply and govern the minimum conditions for maintenance of exterior property, premises and structures. Premises shall comply with the conditions herein prescribed insofar as they are applicable.
The owner of the premises shall maintain such structures and premises in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy or use premises which do not comply with the requirements of this section.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1783]
Depositing or throwing refuse, garbage, food product, bird food, animal food or debris of any kind in any watercourse, river, storm sewer or stream is prohibited.
Throwing or depositing garbage, food product, bird food, animal food, debris or refuse of any kind, including but not limited to cans, bottles, paper and plastic, in any street, alley, park or public way within the Village is unlawful.
All exterior property areas and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition and free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
A. 
Nonresidential garbage containers. The operator of every establishment producing garbage, vegetable wastes, or other putrescible materials shall provide and use commercially constructed containers that are leakproof and have close-fitting covers for the storage of such materials until removed from the premises for disposal.
B. 
Residential garbage containers. The owner of the premises shall provide and at all times cause to be used a commercially manufactured container which has a close-fitting cover and is provided with handles. Refuse that is too large or heavy for the container, such as limbs, twigs, construction materials, etc., may be placed alongside the container in such a manner that it cannot be scattered. Such containers shall not be placed for refuse pickup more than 24 hours before such pickup and shall be removed within 24 hours after such pickup. Such containers, when not out for pickup, shall be stored as reasonably concealed from view from the street as is practical.
[Amended 10-30-1995 by FMC-315; 7-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1783]
C. 
Plastic bags. Plastic bags outside the garbage container may only be used for leaves, grass clippings, newspapers or magazines. Papers and magazines not in containers must be bundled and tied. No garbage is to be put in any plastic bag unless such bag is within a garbage container.
Lawns, hedges, bushes, trees, and other vegetation shall be kept trimmed and from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view or where such vegetation may constitute a blighting influence on adjoining property. However, this provision shall not preclude the maintenance of undeveloped or underdeveloped land in its natural state, or subject, however, to compliance with the weed ordinance.
An owner of a structure or property shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests in all exterior areas of the premises, except that the occupant shall be responsible for such extermination in the exterior areas of the premises of a single-family dwelling. Whenever infestation exists in the shared or public parts of the premises or other than a single-family dwelling, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
If any sidewalk, steps, driveways, parking spaces and similar paved areas or portion thereof by virtue of its state of repair shall constitute a danger to public health and safety, the sidewalk, steps, driveways, parking spaces and similar paved areas or portion thereof shall be replaced.
All dilapidated accessory buildings on any property shall be removed or rehabilitated. All accessory buildings which are to remain shall provide weatherproofed usable space and shall not harbor rodents, termites, or other vermin.
All fences, retaining wall, or similar structures shall be kept in good structural repair.
[Added 7-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1783]
Any person, firm or corporation maintaining any gas pipe in the Village shall, in the absence of provision in the franchise concerning the subject, keep such pipes free from leaks.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 12.207N, Barbed wire fences - electric current fences, of the 1964 Code, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 7-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1783.
[Amended 8-5-2013 by FMC-461]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to burn any leaves, paper, rubbish or other substances upon any of the public streets, sidewalks or alleys in the Village. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to permit or imply the permission to burn any substances or other combustible material on any public or private property except in accordance with the following: With the exception of fires in outdoor receptacles designed and used for cooking food, or fire pits as specified herein, the outdoor burning of leaves, brush, trimmings from trees or bushes, vegetable matter, wood, paper or other combustible debris, refuse, waste, rubbish, garbage, or any other material on any property, public or private, from any source material on any property, public or private, from any source whatsoever, within the corporate limits of the Village is prohibited. Upon notice to and permission granted by the Village Fire Chief or his/her designee, the following exceptions may be permitted: fires in conjunction with holidays, festive celebrations, or other public or private recreational purposes, the burning of dead or diseased vegetation or similar debris when no other method of disposal is feasible; and fires set and attended by personnel of the Fire Department in the course of duty, training or otherwise.
B. 
The use of fire pits will be allowed, provided that there is compliance with the following regulations:
(1) 
A fire pit includes a permanent below ground fire pit, a permanent grade level outdoor fireplace or a portable outdoor fireplace, all intended to contain and control outdoor wood fires.
(2) 
Portable fire pits, constructed of steel, brick, or masonry, shall be used in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications and safety guidelines and must be placed upon a noncombustible surface. The total fuel area of the fire pit shall be limited to 36 inches diameter and not more than six square feet with a maximum depth of 24 inches.
(3) 
Only natural seasoned firewood or commercial logs may be burned. The use of permanently installed propane or natural gas fire pits is permitted.
(4) 
The fires in fire pits shall be kept manageable.
(5) 
Any permanently installed fire pit shall require a permit and an inspection by an enforcement official.
(6) 
The use of the fire pit must be attended and supervised by a competent adult property owner until the fire has been completely extinguished. A resident/tenant of a property may use a fire pit in accordance to this section as long as the property owner or assigned management company grants written permission to the resident/tenant. The use of the fire pit must be attended and supervised by the resident/tenant until the fire has been completely extinguished.
(7) 
A portable ten-pound ABC type fire extinguisher or other approved extinguishing equipment, such as a garden hose, bucket of sand, or dirt, must be readily available.
(8) 
The use of a fire pit which creates a hazardous or objectionable condition shall be prohibited. A police officer, fire officer, or enforcement official is authorized to order the extinguishment of a fire in a fire pit creating a hazardous or objectionable condition.
(9) 
The use of the fire pit shall not be located within 15 feet of a structure or any combustible material and 10 feet from any property line. In no case shall the appliance be located directly under overhead combustible construction.
(10) 
The use of the fire pit shall not cause any building fire alarm system to activate.
(11) 
Guidelines when using fire pit shall include common sense, respect for neighbors and neighborhood.
A. 
On corner lots where a front and/or side yard is required or provided, no building, fence, hedge or other obstruction shall be placed so as to interfere with clear vision between a height of 2 1/2 feet and 10 feet above the center-line grades of the intersecting streets in an area abounded by the street lines of such corner lots and a line joining the points along said street lines which are 50 feet from the point of their intersection.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any property owner to permit overhanging bushes, shrubs or trees to grow over a sidewalk where the overhang is less than 10 feet above the sidewalk.
[Amended 10-3-1994 by FMC-294]
A. 
It shall be unlawful to maintain or allow to stand, in whole or in part, any tree which has been determined to be dead or dangerous by the Village of Flossmoor.
B. 
A "dangerous tree" is defined as any tree, or part thereof, which has become likely to cause damage to any property or to fall in or across any public way or public place.
C. 
The owner of the premises, upon which such dead or dangerous tree grows or stands, shall remove such tree promptly upon notice from the Village to remove.
[Amended 10-2-1995 by FMC-313]
A. 
Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this section:
BUSINESS DISTRICT
Any district zoned for business or commercial purposes within the Village.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Public Works or, in his absence, his duly designated and acting representative.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street between the curblines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
STREET or HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purpose of vehicular travel.
B. 
Snow and ice to be removed from sidewalks by private persons.
(1) 
Every person, partnership, corporation, company or syndicate in charge or control of any building or lot of land within the Village fronting or abutting on a paved sidewalk in a business or multifamily residential district, whether as owner, landlord, tenant, occupant, or otherwise, shall remove and clear away, or cause to be removed or cleared away, snow and ice from so much of said sidewalk as is in front of or abuts on said building or lot of land, by eight business hours after the cessation of any fall of snow, sleet, or freezing rain or by the beginning of business hours of the next business day following such fall, whichever period is shorter.
(2) 
However, in the event snow and ice on a sidewalk has become so hard that it cannot be removed without likelihood of damage to the sidewalk, the person or entity charged with its removal shall within the time mentioned in Subsection B(1) hereof cause enough sand or other abrasive to be put on the sidewalk to make travel thereon reasonably safe; and shall then, as soon thereafter as weather permits, cause said sidewalk to be thoroughly cleaned.
C. 
Removal of snow and ice from public transportation systems. Every person, partnership, corporation, company, or syndicate operating a public transportation system within the Village employing motor buses or trains shall remove and clear away, or cause to be removed and cleared away, snow and ice from its passenger loading and unloading areas and its tracks, if any. Snow and ice from its passenger loading and unloading areas shall be removed and cleared away within the first two hours of daylight after the cessation of any fall of snow, sleet or freezing rain, except that if the snow and ice has become so hard that it cannot be removed without likelihood of damage to the underlying surface, such operator shall, within the said two-hour period, cause enough sand or other abrasive to be put on the passenger loading and unloading area to make walking thereon reasonably safe; and shall then, as soon thereafter as weather permits, cause said area to be thoroughly cleaned.
D. 
Snow and ice to be removed from roofs. Every person, partnership, corporation, company, or syndicate in charge or control of any building or other structure located in a business or multifamily residential district, whether as owner, landlord, tenant, occupant, or otherwise, shall remove and clear away, or cause to be removed and cleared away, any accumulation of snow and ice on said building or other structure which is liable to fall on any sidewalk, roadway, or other public way. Such work shall be completed within a reasonable time, but not later than the end of the first eight hours of daylight after the cessation of any fall of snow, sleet, or freezing rain.
E. 
Depositing of snow and ice restricted. No person, partnership, corporation, company, or syndicate shall deposit or cause to be deposited any snow and ice on or against a fire hydrant or on any sidewalk, roadway, or loading and unloading areas of a public transportation system.
F. 
Violations; work done; liability therefor.
(1) 
In the event of the failure of any person, partnership, corporation, company, or syndicate to clear away or treat with abrasives and subsequently clear away any snow and ice from any sidewalks as hereinbefore provided, or cause this to be done, the Director may, at his discretion as soon as practicable after such failure, cause such work to be done.
(2) 
The Director shall ascertain and keep a record of the exact cost of all work he causes to be done in accordance with this section on account of each act or omission of each person, partnership, corporation, company, or syndicate; and he shall identify these persons or entities with particularity.
(3) 
Each person, partnership, corporation, company or syndicate whose act or omission makes it necessary that the Director cause work to be done in accordance with this section shall be liable to the Village for the cost of such work plus a penalty of 10% of such cost. It shall be the duty of the Director or other appropriate official to sue for these costs and penalties, and it shall be the duty of the Village Attorney to assist in bringing of these suits.
A. 
Nuisance. Any elm tree or part thereof, whether living or dead, which is infected with or has been attacked by Caratocystis ulmi or Graphium ulmi (commonly known as "dutch elm disease" or "elm blight"), or which because of its condition may serve as a breeding place for smaller European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistraitus, and the native elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rifipes, is hereby declared to be a nuisance. It shall be unlawful to permit any elm tree or part thereof so infected or in such condition to remain in or be brought into the Village.
B. 
Inspection and notification. The officers, agents, servants, or employees of the Village of Flossmoor are hereby authorized and directed to enter upon private property whereon there is located any elm tree having the appearance of being dead or suspected of being infected or diseased with dutch elm disease of elm blight for the purpose of inspecting said dead or suspected diseased tree and, if necessary, removing therefrom samples or portions thereof to be tested to establish whether said tree is, in fact, dead, infected or diseased. The owner, or his agent, or the occupant of the premises shall be notified of the findings of all such observations or tests that will require the removal of a dead, infected or diseased elm tree.
C. 
Removal by owner. It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant of any land upon which said dead, infected or diseased elm tree or any part thereof exists to have the same removed and destroyed within 10 days of notice of such fact by the Village of Flossmoor.
D. 
Removal by Village. In all cases where the owner or occupant of the premises on which said dead, infected or diseased elm tree or part thereof is located cannot be found, of if found and notified as aforesaid, neglects or refuses to remove and destroy said nuisance, it shall be lawful for the Village of Flossmoor, its officers, agents, servants or employees, to remove and destroy said dead, infected or diseased elm tree or part thereof, and said owner or occupant shall be charged all costs and expenses incurred for removal and destruction. Such costs and expenses shall be a lien on the property in accordance with 65 ILCS 5/11-20-15, to be collected by the Village by suit or otherwise, in addition to the fine or penalty herein provided.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1783]
[Amended 8-7-1995 by FMC-311; 6-18-2001 by FMC-370]
A. 
Weeds declared a nuisance. Any weeds, such as jimsons, burdock, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur, wild lettuce or other weeds of a like kind, found growing in any lot or tract of land in the Village are hereby declared to be a nuisance, and it shall be unlawful to permit any such weeds to grow or remain in any such place.
B. 
Height. It shall be unlawful for anyone to permit any weeds, grass or plants, other than trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants, to grow to a height exceeding eight inches on unimproved property and five inches on improved property anywhere in the Village. Any such plants or weeds exceeding such height are hereby declared to be a nuisance. When cut, the clippings shall be raked and removed from any premises where the topography is such that stormwaters will cause the clippings to drain into storm sewers, drains, ditches, swales or other drainage facilities.
C. 
Removal notice.
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works to serve or cause to be served annually a notice upon the owner or occupant of any vacant premises that if weeds or plants are permitted to grow in violations of the provisions of this § 215-7-18, the Director of Public Works may cause said weeds or plants to be cut without further notice.
(2) 
It shall also be the duty of the Director of Public Works to serve or cause to be served a notice upon the owner or occupant of any improved premises on which weeds or plants are permitted to grow in violation of the provisions of this § 215-7-18 and to demand the abatement of the nuisance within seven days. If the person so served does not abate the nuisance within seven days, the Director of Public Works may cause said weeds or plants to be cut without further notice.
D. 
Collection of costs. The Director of Public Works shall keep an account of the costs incurred by the Village for cutting weeds or plants pursuant to § 215-7-18 above, including cutting and raking and removal of clippings, as required, and such costs shall be charged to and paid by such owner or occupant.
E. 
Lien. The charges, costs and expense for cutting plants, grass and weeds regulated by this section shall be a lien against the property as provided in 65 ILCS 5/11-20-6 and 11-20-7. The notice procedure required by said statutes shall be applicable.
It shall be unlawful to permit or store any combustible refuse in such a way as to create a fire hazard, or to store or throw away any refuse of any kind in any alley, street or other public way in the Village.
It shall be unlawful to deposit or leave any refuse or material in such a place or condition that it can be blown by the wind so as to be scattered or cause clouds of dust or particles; and it shall be unlawful to permit the escape of soot, ashes or other solid products or results of combustion so as to be wind-blown or scattered.
[Added 5-5-2008 by FMC-424]
A. 
Dumpsters may only be placed when an administrative permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator. The form and content of applications for such permit shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator.
B. 
The term "dumpster" shall, in the context of this specific regulation, mean a dump box, roll-off box, or any other container commonly referred to as a "dumpster," used for the collection, storage and removal of debris, trash, rubbish, or scrap for disposal off site, which is portable and which is delivered and removed by vehicle.
C. 
Dumpsters are allowed in all zoning districts, provided they meet the following conditions:
(1) 
Only one dumpster may be located on a residential lot at a time;
(2) 
No portion of any dumpster may be located within or extend onto the right-of-way and/or easement, including but not limited to sidewalks, parkways, streets or alleys;
(3) 
The dumpster must be located on an impervious surface;
(4) 
Placement of a dumpster shall be limited to 30 days per residential lot, per calendar year; and no more than two such placements shall occur within a continuous twelve-month period;
(5) 
The dumpster shall not be used for the disposal of putrescible animal and vegetable waster, liquid or other waste resulting from the handling, processing, preparation, cooking and consumption of food and all cans, bottles and other containers originally used for food stuffs;
(6) 
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or person being services to maintain the dumpster area free of scattered debris, overflow and all other nuisances.
D. 
The restrictions and permit requirement stated in this section shall not apply in the following instances:
(1) 
Where a building permit has been issued, and the dumpster is located on private property and is being used for the disposal of construction debris.
(2) 
Where the dumpster serves as a bulk garbage container for commercial, institutional or multifamily buildings, rests in a semipermanent location, has a capacity of no greater than eight cubic yards and has a lid or other means of enclosing the container.