[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Auburn 3-28-1991 by L.L. No. 2-1991 as Ch. 28 of the 1991 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction and fire prevention — See Ch. 125.
Housing standards — See Ch. 182.
Nuisances — See Ch. 213.
Sanitary sewers — See Ch. 242.
Solid waste — See Ch. 254.
Trees — See Ch. 277.
Protection of water — See Ch. 294.
Water service — See Ch. 297.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Property Maintenance Ordinance of the City of Auburn, New York."
A. 
In order to prevent blight and the spread thereof, it is hereby declared that all property in the City, improved or unimproved, including but not limited to residences, office buildings, shopping centers, supermarkets, retail stores, discount houses, warehouses, manufacturing or fabrication plants, factories, gasoline service stations, public garages, motor vehicle repair shops or other business uses, whether occupied or vacant, and accessory structures located in the City of Auburn shall be maintained in conformity with the standards set out in this chapter so as to assure that these structures and properties will not adversely affect the neighborhood and the community at large.
B. 
It is found and declared that by reason of lack of maintenance and progressive deterioration, certain structures and properties have the further effect of creating blighting conditions and initiating slums, and that, if the same are not curtailed and removed, the aforesaid conditions will grow and spread and will necessitate in time the expenditure of large amounts of public funds to correct and eliminate the same. By reason of timely regulations and restrictions as herein contained, the growth of slums and blight may be prevented and the neighborhood and property values thereby maintained, the desirability and amenities of residential and nonresidential uses and neighborhoods enhanced and the public health, safety and welfare protected and fostered.
Chapter 182, Housing Standards, of this Municipal Code shall supersede any provisions of this chapter which are in conflict therewith. All other provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to residential premises.
A. 
Open areas.
(1) 
Surface and subsurface water shall be appropriately drained to protect buildings and structures and to prevent the development of stagnant ponds.
(2) 
No shopping baskets, carts or wagons shall be left unattended or standing, and such baskets, carts or wagons shall be regularly collected and removed to the interior of the building or buildings from which they were taken by the person responsible for such building or buildings.
(3) 
All fences shall be maintained by the person responsible for the property. Such maintenance shall include but not be limited to the replacement and/or repair of fences which may become in disrepair.
(4) 
All landscaping shall be well maintained so that lawns, hedges, bushes and trees shall be kept trimmed and free from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same may constitute a blighting factor thereby depreciating adjoining property. Compliance with Article VI of Chapter 259 of this Municipal Code shall constitute the minimum standards that must be met for grass and weeds.
(5) 
Steps, walks, driveways, parking spaces and similarly paved areas shall be maintained so as to afford safe passage under normal use and weather conditions. Any holes or other hazards that may exist shall be filled or necessary repairs or replacement carried out. All off-street parking facilities shall be swept at least monthly.
(6) 
Yards, court and vacant lots shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation. They shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent rubbish from being blown about the neighborhood. Open wells, cesspools or cisterns shall be securely closed or barricaded from access to the public.
(7) 
No person shall deposit, throw or scatter or suffer, permit or allow the accumulation of any filth, dirt, ashes, junk, garbage, wastepaper, dust, rubbish, sticks, stones, grass, wood, leaves, paper or paper boxes, iron, tin, nails, bottles or glass or any other kind of rubbish or waste material, appliances, furniture, tires, machinery and other bulk refuse upon any sidewalk, highway or public place, or upon any vacant or improved lot, piece or parcel of ground abutting upon any sidewalk, highway or public place, or upon any private property within the City except as permitted by City regulations for trash and garbage removal.
(8) 
No yard, lot, or part thereof shall be used for the storage or keeping of construction equipment, machinery, vehicles or parts thereof, building materials and/or supplies, except as hereinafter provided. Such area, or space, shall be deemed to be a contractor's yard. This subsection shall not apply to areas zoned industrial nor to businesses with preexisting nonconforming uses in the keeping of such items and/or equipment.
B. 
Buildings and structures.
(1) 
All exterior exposed surfaces not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be repaired, coated, treated or sealed to protect them from deterioration or weathering.
(2) 
Floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, furnishing and fixtures of buildings shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. Every floor, exterior wall, roof and porch, or appurtenance thereto, shall be maintained in a manner so as to prevent collapse of the same or injury to the occupants of the building or to the public.
(3) 
The foundation walls of every building shall be maintained in good repair and be structurally sound.
(4) 
Exterior walls (including doors and windows), roofs and the areas around doors, windows, chimneys and other parts of a building shall be so maintained as to keep water from entering the buildings. Materials which have been damaged or show evidences of dry rot or other deterioration shall be repaired or replaced and refinished in a workmanlike manner within a reasonable amount of time. Exterior walls, roofs and other parts of the building shall be free from loose and unsecured objects and material. Such objects or materials shall be removed, repaired or replaced.
(5) 
The owner of a vacated building shall take such steps and perform such acts as may be required of him or her from time to time to ensure that the building and its adjoining yards remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining property or the public.
(6) 
Buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practices.
(7) 
The owner and/or tenant of a residential premises will not cause or allow the external placement of any upholstered furniture, including mattresses, not designed or manufactured for said exterior use. "Exterior use" shall include but not be limited to unenclosed porches and/or decks.
[Added 5-9-2002 by Ord. No. 2-2002]
A. 
The Housing Code Inspector shall be the enforcement officer of this chapter.
B. 
The Housing Code Inspector may institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent the violation of this chapter.
The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-18 of this Code.