[Ord. No. 756-97 §2, 11-4-1997; Ord. No. 1524-2023, 4-3-2023; Ord. No. 1578-2024, 7-15-2024]
A. 
Any condition on any lot or land that has the presence of debris of any kind is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, subject to abatement. "Debris" includes weed cuttings, cut and fallen trees and shrubs, overgrown vegetation and noxious weeds which are seven (7) inches or more in height, rubbish and trash, lumber not piled or stacked twelve (12) inches off the ground, rocks or bricks, tin, steel, parts of derelict cars or trucks, broken furniture and/or any flammable material. The word "debris" also includes any other material which is found on any lot or land that is unhealthy or unsafe, by reason that such conditions may:
1. 
Cause a fire hazard;
2. 
Furnish cover for prowlers;
3. 
Create a nuisance with potential danger of injury on rocks, debris, holes, etc., covered by excess growth;
4. 
Obstruct visibility at street intersections;
5. 
Furnish a potential harborage or breeding place for disease-carrying insects, arthropods, animals and poisonous snakes.
[Ord. No. 1578-2024, 7-15-2024]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee or occupant, or any agent, servant, representative or employee of any such owner, lessee or occupant, having control of any lot, piece of land, or any part of any lot, to allow weeds, other rank or uncultivated vegetation, or grass to attain a height greater than seven (7) inches or more on: (i) any developed lot or land; or (ii) that portion or any undeveloped land which portion is located within fifty (50) feet of the nearest edge of any adjacent street or alley, or which portion is located within fifty (50) feet of the property line of residentially zoned property. That portion of undeveloped land located beyond these fifty (50)-foot areas may grow in excess of seven (7) inches but no more than twelve (12) inches.
B. 
Whenever private property abuts a public right-of-way or easement belonging to the City, or any other public entity, and there exists in such right-of-way or easement a tree, lawn or grassy area between the private property line and the middle of said right-of-way or easement, then such tree, lawn or grassy area shall be considered, for purposes of this Section, to be a part of the private lot which abuts the right-of-way or easement, and it shall be the duty of those responsible under this Section for the trimming of tree limbs to at least twelve (12) feet above the public street, alley, street right-of-way, or alley right-of-way, sidewalk, or public place, and mowing of the private lot to equally maintain the tree, lawn or grassy area within the abutting right-of-way or easement, and all of the provisions of this Section shall apply with equal force and effect to said tree, lawn or grassy area.
C. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to publicly owned grassy medians. In addition to any other available remedies, any person violating this Section shall be punished as provided by Section 215.010.
D. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to cultivated property, regardless of its zoning, on an undeveloped parcel in excess of three (3) acres of size, provided that it is harvested at a reasonable maturity level. The property owner or tenant must file a letter with the City notifying of the cultivated status of the property.
[Ord. No. 756-97 §3, 11-4-1997; Ord. No. 1524-2023, 4-3-2023; Ord. No. 1578-2024, 7-15-2024]
A. 
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer or other employee authorized by the City Administrator is made aware that a violation of Sections 215.050, 215.051, or 215.052 has occurred, the Code Enforcement Officer or other employee authorized shall give ten (10) days’ notice as authorized in Section 215.030 to the owner and occupant or person in possession of the premises where the violation exists, or to his or her agent, stating the nature of the violation and ordering the removal or abatement of violative weeds, or other rank vegetation nuisance. If the violation is not abated within ten (10) days of the notice, the City shall cause the violation to be abated with costs assessed as set forth in Section 215.030. If a party timely appeals under Section 215.030, costs may be challenged.
B. 
Any person served with a notice of violation has the right to a hearing as set forth in Section 215.030; however, the filing of an appeal shall not stay the abatement of weeds or other rank vegetation.
C. 
If weeds, or other rank vegetation are allowed to grow on the same property in violation of a provision in Article II of this Chapter more than once during the same growing season, and the City has provided at least one (1) notice of violation in accordance with Subsection (A) of this Section, the Code Enforcement Officer or other employee authorized may, without further notification, have the weeds, or other rank vegetation removed, cut or abated, and the cost of the same shall be billed and collected as provided in Section 215.030. The provisions of this Subsection do not apply to lands owned by a public utility and lands, rights-of-way, and easements a appurtenant or incidental to lands controlled by any railroad.
[Ord. No. 1578-2024, 7-15-2024]
In case the party responsible for abating or remedying the weeds, or other rank vegetation identified as being nuisances or in violation of Sections 215.050 through 215.060 has not removed or abated or otherwise brought the violation into compliance with this Chapter within the ten (10) day abatement period set forth in Section 215.060(A), the Code Enforcement Officer or other employee authorized shall have the weeds or rank vegetation, cut down and removed or otherwise abated to bring such areas into compliance with this Chapter. All costs of abatement shall be collected as provided in Section 215.030.