The purpose of this article is to recognize and protect the
private and public benefits resulting from safe, sanitary and attractive
nonresidential buildings, structures, yards and vacant areas. Attractive
and well-maintained properties enhance neighborhoods and the City
and protect physical and monetary property values.
It shall be the duty of any person(s) owning or controlling
a building or premises, including vacant buildings and lots, to improve
and maintain all property under his/their control to comply with the
following minimum requirements.
A. All exterior doors and windows shall be kept in sound working condition
free of broken glass and shall be secured by latch, lock or other
means so as to prevent easy entry into such structure by children,
vagrants, or unauthorized persons.
B. All exterior doors shall be equipped with a workable lock or locking
device and shall be kept securely locked during the period of time
said building is vacant.
C. All exterior walls and roofs shall be kept in good repair and free
of holes, cracks, defective materials and structural deterioration
so as to keep such building from becoming a breeding place for rodents,
roaches and disease-carrying insects.
D. The exterior of said building and the premises thereon shall be kept
free of any accumulation of flammable or combustible rubbish or waste
materials of sufficient quantity to constitute a danger to said building
or any other building or premises in the event that such waste materials
become ignited.
E. The exterior of the premises shall be kept free of any accumulation
of trash, garbage, rubbish or any waste material of such quantity
as to constitute an unsanitary condition.
F. Any existing fence shall be maintained in good repair with gates
locked when the property is vacant.
G. Block, brick or other siding shall be maintained in good repair with
no holes or loose or missing pieces.
H. An 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.
I. Exterior surfaces shall be clean and free from accumulation of dirt,
grime, or graffiti, and all other appropriate measures shall be taken
to properly maintain the buildings.
J. Where areas within a multi-use building are owned by separate entities,
the obligations of this article shall fall only upon those persons
responsible for the maintenance of the particular area that are not
being maintained in accordance with this article.
K. Properties shall be landscaped, mowed and trimmed so as to maintain
a height of grass no greater than six inches unless allowed in another
section of this Code.
Weeds shall be mowed or removed and all cracks, potholes or
other breaks in the parking lot surface shall be promptly filled and
repaired by the proprietor. The proprietor shall provide for snow
removal services for public right-of-way and parking lots to provide
reasonable access to the property by public emergency services.
The proprietor shall provide for the removal of all waste, trash,
rubbish or refuse of all kinds from the commercial or industrial property
at regular intervals. Between collections, the refuse shall be stored
in covered containers.
The proprietor shall be responsible for seeing to it that the
premises of the commercial or industrial building, including the parking
lot, are kept free of junk, trash, rubbish, debris or refuse of any
kind.