[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
A. 
Hazards. The exterior of all premises and all structures shall be kept free of any hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated. Such hazards and conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Debris, garbage, litter, junk, and rubbish.
(2) 
Loose and overhanging objects including, without limitation, dead and dying trees and/or tree branches, accumulations of ice, or other similar conditions which, by reason of their location above ground level, constitute a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof.
(3) 
Ground surface hazards including, without limitation, holes, excavations, breaks, projections and obstructions which constitute a hazard to persons using the premises, except during active construction if cordoned off in a visually obvious manner, as determined by the Construction Official.
B. 
Foundation walls, piers, retaining walls and columns. Foundation walls, piers, retaining walls, columns or similar load-bearing components shall be kept structurally sound, free from defects and damage, and capable of bearing imposed loads safely.
C. 
Exterior facilities. Unsafe exterior facilities including, without limitation, exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs and fire escapes, shall be kept structurally sound and in good repair and shall be provided with banisters or railings properly designated and maintained. Exterior walls, retaining walls, sidings and roofs shall be kept structurally sound, in good repair and free from defects.
D. 
Painting and other protective coating. All exposed surfaces susceptible to decay shall be kept, at all times, painted or otherwise provided with a protective coating sufficient to prevent deterioration. This provision shall not apply during the course of active construction projects for which a permit has been issued, provided that not more than six months has expired since the issuance of such permit.
E. 
Weather and watertightness. Every dwelling shall be maintained so as to ensure weather and watertightness. Exterior walls, retaining walls, roofs, windows, window frames, doors, door frames, foundations and other portions of the structure shall be so maintained as to prevent water from entering the structure under normal conditions and to prevent excessive drafts. Damaged materials must be repaired or replaced promptly; places showing signs of rot, leakage, deterioration or corrosion are to be restored and protected against weathering or seepage.
[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
A. 
All structures (including fences) shall be kept painted or whitewashed where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance, free of broken glass, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick, or excessive peeling paint.
B. 
All properties, vacant or improved, shall be maintained free of any accumulation of debris, rubbish, garbage, recyclable material, junk or litter as defined herein.
[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
Exterior lighting fixtures shall be so hooded or shielded as to reflect the light away from abutting or neighboring residential property.
[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
A. 
It shall be the duty of the owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or person in charge or any structure to keep the sidewalk and curb abutting the building or structure free from obstruction or nuisances of every kind, and to keep sidewalks, areaways, backyards, courts and alleys free from litter.
B. 
Sidewalks, driveways, walkways and entrance stairways shall be maintained in a safe condition, such as will not constitute a hazard to persons using the premises.
C. 
Sidewalk repairs and maintenance shall comply with the provisions of Article 17-2 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Hightstown.
D. 
The owner, occupant or tenant of premises abutting or bordering on any street in the Borough shall remove all snow and ice from abutting sidewalks of such street or, in the event of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impracticable, shall cause the same to be thoroughly covered with sand or abrasive material within 12 hours of daylight after it falls or is formed.
E. 
The owner, occupant or tenant of premises used by the public or business invitees shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks, streets and parking areas used by the public in the transaction of business or, in the event of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impracticable, shall cause the same to be thoroughly covered with sand or abrasive material within 12 hours of daylight after it falls or is formed.
F. 
No owner, tenant or occupant of any premises abutting on any street shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice into or on any street in the Borough. The purpose of this provision is to prohibit any person from throwing, casting, placing or depositing snow and ice which accumulates on the private property belonging to that person onto the sidewalks or streets of the Borough.
G. 
In case snow or ice is not removed from any sidewalks or is cast or deposited on the sidewalks or the street by the owner, tenant or occupant of any premises, it shall be removed under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Works, and the cost of removal as nearly as can be ascertained shall be certified by the Superintendent of Public Works to the Borough Council. The Council shall examine such certification and, if it is found to be correct, shall cause such cost to be charged against the real estate so abutting or bordering on such sidewalks. The amount charged shall become a lien and a tax upon the real estate or land and be added to, recorded and collected in the manner as the taxes next to be levied and assessed upon the premises and shall bear interest and be enforced and collected by the same officers and in the same manner as other taxes. The imposition and collection of a fine or any other penalty for violation of any of the provisions of this article shall not constitute any bar to the right of the Borough to collect the cost as certified for the removal of snow or ice in the manner herein authorized.
[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
A. 
All properties shall be kept free of brush, grass and weeds (including but not limited to ragweed) of more than 10 inches in height, dead and dying trees, and obnoxious growth where same are inimical to the preservation of public health, safety or general welfare of the Borough or which may constitute a fire hazard.
B. 
Trees, shrubs, hedges, etc. that are dead shall be removed and lawfully disposed of.
C. 
In accordance with § 13-3-1H of the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Hightstown, hedges and shrubbery must be kept trimmed so as not to overhang or obstruct the sidewalk.
D. 
Hedges, trees and other "living fences" along property lines shall be kept pruned so that they do not impinge on neighboring properties.
[Ord. No. 2002-23; Ord. No. 2003-05; Ord. No. 2005-11; Ord. No. 2012-08; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-10; Ord. No. 2015-16; Ord. No. 2017-02; Ord. No. 2018-04]
All waterways, brooks, drainage ditches and swales, to the extent that the same are located on or immediately adjacent to the premises, shall be maintained in good condition, free from debris, plantings or other obstructions.