Village of Slinger, WI Property Maintenance

The Village Board hereby finds that there exist, or may exist in the future, within the Village structures used for residential and nonresidential use that are likely to affect by reason of their maintenance or lack thereof, the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the Village. It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to prevent or correct the existence of such adverse conditions through the establishment of minimum standards related to the maintenance, appearance and condition of residential and nonresidential premises. This chapter of the Village Code shall also provide for the enforcement of a minimum level of care and maintenance to buildings and properties throughout the Village.

§ 381-2 Applicability.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply uniformly to the maintenance of all buildings or structures and the land on which they are situated within the Village of Slinger, whether or not the property was constructed, altered or repaired before or after enactment of this Code.

§ 381-3 Responsibilities of owner or occupant.

Every owner and occupant of property within the Village of Slinger has a responsibility to maintain such property in a sanitary, safe and groomed condition. No owner or operator shall occupy or permit another person to occupy any dwelling unit or premises that is in violation of the terms of this chapter.

§ 381-4 Property maintenance standards.

[Amended 8-21-2023 by Ord. No. 08-04-2023]

Exterior walls.

(1)

Any building or structure on property located within the Village shall be kept in good, safe repair and maintained in good condition as relates to exterior appearance, free of broken glass, missing or loose shingles, excessive paint peeling, crumbling stone or brick, loose boards or other conditions reflective of deterioration and inadequate or deferred maintenance. Exterior walls shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting siding, boards or timbers, and any other conditions that might admit rain or dampness to interior portions of the walls or the occupied spaces of the building or structure. All buildings, exclusive of windows and doors, shall be covered in a rigid, exterior grade, weatherproof, permanent siding material typical of that used on similar structures throughout the Village. Soft building wrap, membrane, tarp or similar products are not considered acceptable exterior building wall materials. The term "excessive/ly," as used in this subsection and throughout this § 381-4, shall mean" as interpreted by the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector." If there is a dispute as to the fairness, accuracy, reasonableness, or practicality of the Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector's determination that something is "excessively," such dispute shall be resolved by a decision of the Planning Commission.

(2)

A building or structure, the exterior surface of which has been painted or other preservatives applied, shall be repainted, resurfaced or otherwise treated, repaired, or replaced in a workmanlike manner when its condition has degraded to the point that the exterior surface is peeling, chipping, flaking, cracking or in an otherwise excessively deteriorated condition as determined by the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector.

Doors and windows.

(1)

Exterior doors, when closed, shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards and any other conditions that might admit rain, snow or dampness to the interior of the building.

(2)

Windows shall be fully supplied with glass window panes or an approved substitute which is without cracks or holes.

Fences and retaining walls.

(1)

Fences shall be properly maintained as to avoid creating a health or safety hazard. If paint or other preservatives have been applied to the exterior surface, it shall be repainted or resurfaced or otherwise treated in a workmanlike manner when its condition has degraded to the point that the exterior surface of the fence is peeling, chipping, flaking or in an otherwise excessively deteriorated condition as determined by the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector.

(2)

Retaining walls shall be structurally sound. No retaining walls shall be constructed or maintained in such as manner as to cause an unsafe or unsightly condition by its disrepair. Retaining walls shall not permit the repeated spillage of mud, gravel, water, or debris upon any public way or upon any adjoining property.

Lawns, weeds, and landscaping.

(1)

The owner or occupant of any lands in the Village shall install and maintain landscaping, plantings and other decorative surface treatments, including turf grass, so as to present an attractive appearance in all court and yard areas in accordance with generally accepted landscaping practices in southeastern Wisconsin.

(2)

Lawns (including any weeds therein) shall be maintained to a height not to exceed eight inches.

(3)

Exceptions to these requirements include natural landscaped areas as described in § 206-4, Natural landscaped areas, and areas which are heavily wooded without lawn or turf grass within the heavily wooded areas.

(4)

Plantings shall be maintained so as not to present hazards or a nuisance to adjoining properties or to persons or vehicles traveling on public ways and shall be maintained so as to enhance the appearance and value of the property on which located and thereby the appearance and value of the neighborhood and the Village.

(5)

Weed and invasive species control shall be regulated in accordance with §§ 206-5 and 550-91, respectively.

Porches, railings, stairways, steps, decks and patios. Outside stairs, porches, decks, patios, and other similar appurtenances attached to any building or structure shall be constructed and maintained as to be safe for its intended use and compliant with all applicable building codes. Outside stairs, porches, decks, patios and other similar appurtenances attached to any building or structure, the exterior surface of which has been painted or other preservatives applied, shall be repainted, resurfaced or otherwise treated, repaired, or replaced in a workmanlike manner when its condition has degraded to the point that the exterior surface is peeling, chipping, flaking, cracking or in an otherwise excessively deteriorated condition as determined by the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector.

Roofs and drainage.

(1)

Roofs shall be maintained so as not to leak, and water shall be drained and conveyed so as not to cause damage to the exterior walls, eaves, soffits and foundation. Roofs with missing or loose shingles is not a permitted condition. All roofs shall be covered in a rigid, exterior-grade, weatherproof roofing material typical of that used on similar structures throughout the Village. Soft building wrap, tarps or similar products are not considered acceptable exterior roofing materials. Membrane material, designed and intended specifically for permanent roofing purposes, may be permitted in the case of a roof 4:12 pitch or flatter.

(2)

Gutters and downspouts, when provided, shall be adequately secured and kept free of obstruction. Gutters and downspouts attached to any building or structure, the exterior surface of which has been painted or other preservatives applied, shall be repainted, resurfaced or otherwise treated, repaired, or replaced in a workmanlike manner when their condition has degraded to the point that the exterior surface is peeling, chipping, flaking, leaking, cracking or in an otherwise excessively deteriorated condition as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Downspouts may not discharge on to an adjoining public way or private property.

Unsightly, unenclosed storage. Except as may otherwise be permitted in accordance with §§ 550-49 and 550-51 of the Village Code, unsightly, unenclosed storage of materials, equipment or supplies, including, for instance but not necessarily limited to, trash, unlicensed, unregistered and/or inoperable automobiles, trucks, tractors, trailers, RVs, furnaces, automobile parts, refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, machinery or machinery parts, wood, bricks, pallets, bins, buckets, equipment, tools, appliances, furniture, lumber, building materials, cement blocks, cans and containers, and similar items, is not permitted on any property in the Village of Slinger where such storage is readily visible from any public place or from any surrounding private property. The term "unsightly" shall mean "as interpreted by the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector." If there is a dispute as to the fairness, accuracy, reasonableness, or practicality of the Zoning Administrator's/Building Inspector's determination that something is "unsightly," such dispute shall be resolved by a decision of the Planning Commission.

Litter control. Every owner, occupant or lessee of a building used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes shall maintain litter collection and storage areas in a clean condition and ensure that all litter on the premises is properly containerized. The property owners and the prime contractors in charge of any construction site in the Village shall maintain the construction site in such a manner as will prevent litter from being blown off the site. Accordingly, all litter from construction activities shall be picked up at the end of each workday and placed in appropriate containers.

§ 381-5 Administration and enforcement.

[Amended 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 06-01-2022]

The Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and are authorized to prepare and distribute any procedural rules deemed necessary to administer the purposes of this chapter. The Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator are further authorized to make inspections in response to a complaint of an alleged violation of this chapter.

Upon receipt of a written complaint concerning the maintenance of property in the Village, the Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator shall conduct a review of the complaint that will include a visit to the subject property. The Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator may also initiate a violation review on their own action if necessary. If the Building Inspector's and/or Zoning Administrator's review finds that a violation does exist, they shall issue a notice in writing via first-class mail setting forth the alleged violation and advising the owner, occupant or agent that the violation must be corrected. The notice shall also include a specified time period within which the correction must be completed.

If the violation has not been corrected within the time allowed, the Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator may issue a citation on the property owner for the violation.

§ 381-6 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-2 of the Village Code (Section 21.09).

§ 381-7 Appeals.

[Amended 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 06-01-2022]

Within 10 working days following the date of issuance of a notice by the Building Inspector and/or Zoning Administrator, the recipient of the notice may apply to the Administrative Review Appeals Board of the Village of Slinger for a hearing for consideration of the alleged violation(s) enumerated in the notice. The applicant of such appeal shall be advised of the time and place of the hearing at least seven working days prior to the hearing and shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show cause why such notice should be modified, withdrawn or a variance granted.

§ 381-8 Reinspection fees.

[Added 8-16-2021 by Ord. No. 08-01-2021]

To compensate the Village for inspection and administrative costs related to the enforcement of this chapter, an escalating fee established by the Village Board through resolution may be charged for any reinspection following the initial inspection which resulted in an order for corrective action and any reinspection necessary to determine compliance with an order for corrective action issued hereunder. There shall be no reinspection fee for a final inspection indicating compliance or for a reinspection occurring during the period of an approved time extension granted for good cause and involving a good faith effort on the part of the property owner to comply with the order. Reinspection fees that are not paid by or on behalf of the property owner within 30 days of mailing an invoice to the property owner of record shall be delinquent and shall be charged as a special charge against the real estate upon which the reinspections were made in accordance with § 66.0627, Wis. Stats., and shall be a lien upon the real estate until paid in full.