[Ord. No. 262 §1, 7-18-2005; Ord. No. 283 §1, 9-11-2008; Ord. No. 300 §§1 — 3, 11-14-2011]
A. Failure To Keep Weeds, High Grass And Other Vegetation Cut And Removed,
A Nuisance.
1. All persons owning or occupying any lot or tract of land in the City
of Dearborn shall keep the weeds, high grass and other vegetation
growing on such property cut and removed. Whenever such weeds, high
grass or other vegetation shall attain the height of seven (7) inches,
it shall be deemed a public nuisance.
2. "Weeds, high grass and other vegetation", as used
herein, shall mean all vegetation capable of emitting unpleasant or
noxious odors or transmitting pollen into the air; any vegetation
in excess of seven (7) inches; all vegetation, regardless of height,
including thickets, which may conceal or invite filthy deposits, harbor
rodents, refuse or vermin, or create a fire hazard. Vegetation which
shall be planted, cultivated and maintained for the production of
grain, forage, commercial products, or for beauty and aesthetic purposes
shall not be considered weeds, high grass or other vegetation as used
in this Section.
B. Unlawful To Maintain Such Nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person to create or maintain a nuisance as defined in Subsection
(A).
C. Liability. Whenever weeds, high grass or other vegetation in violation of Subsection
(A) of this Section are allowed to grow on any part of any lot or ground within the City, the owner of the ground or, in case of joint tenancy, tenancy by entireties or tenancy in common, each owner thereof shall be liable.
D. Notice. The Building Commissioner or designated officer
shall give notice, either personally or by United States mail to the
owner or owners, or his/her/its or their agents, or by posting such
notice on the premises; thereupon, the Building Commissioner or designated
officer may declare the weeds, high grass or other vegetation to be
a nuisance and order the owner to begin removing or abating the same
within a specific time which shall not be less than seven (7) days
from the receipt of said notice.
E. Disposition. Upon failure to pursue the removal or abatement
of such nuisance by the time specified in the notice or upon failure
to pursue the removal or abatement of such nuisance without unnecessary
delay, the Building Commissioner or designated officer may cause the
condition which constitutes the nuisance to be removed or abated.
If the Building Commissioner or designated officer causes such condition
to be removed or abated, the cost of such removal or abatement shall
be certified to the City Clerk or officer in charge of finance.
F. Tax Bill. The City Clerk or officer in charge of finance
shall cause the certified cost of such removal or abatement of nuisance
to be included in a special tax bill or added to the annual real estate
tax bill, at the collecting official's option, for the property and
the certified cost shall be collected by the City Collector or other
official collecting taxes in the same manner and procedure for collecting
real estate taxes. If the certified cost is not paid, the tax bill
shall be considered delinquent, and the collection of the delinquent
bill shall be governed by the laws governing delinquent and back taxes.
The tax bill from the date of its issuance shall be deemed a personal
debt against the owner and shall also be a lien on the property until
paid.