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.
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.
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.
[Amended 8-21-2023 by Ord. No. 08-04-2023]
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. 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.
G. 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.
H. 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.
[Amended 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 06-01-2022]
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
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).
[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.
[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.