The exterior of the premises, the exterior of
dwelling structures and the condition of accessory structures shall
be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings
thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the residential
standards of the neighborhood, and such that the appearance of the
premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for
adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive
deterioration of the neighborhood with the accompanying diminution
of property values, including the following:
A. Equipment and materials relating to business, commercial
or industrial uses shall not be stored or used unless permitted under
the Zoning Code for the premises.
B. Open porches shall not be used to store or use household
equipment not usually associated with porch usage, such as washers,
dryers and refrigerators.
C. Premises shall be kept landscaped, and lawns, hedges
and bushes shall be kept trimmed and kept from becoming overgrown
and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute
a blighting factor, depreciating adjoining property and impairing
the good residential character of the neighborhood.
D. All signs permitted by reason of other regulations
or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair,
and printed matter, pictures or illustrations contained thereon shall
be completely maintained or, when no longer in use, completely removed.
E. All reconstruction of walls and sidings shall be of
standard quality and appearance commensurate with the residential
character of the properties in the same block and on both sides of
the street on which the premises fronts, such that the materials used
will not be of a kind that by their appearance under prevailing appraisal
practices and standards will depreciate the values of neighboring
and adjoining premises as aforesaid.
F. The exterior of every structure or accessory structure
not inherently resistant to decay, including fences, shall be maintained
in good repair, and all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted or
otherwise provided with a protective coating sufficient to prevent
structural deterioration and to maintain appearance. The same shall
be maintained free of broken glass, loose shingles, crumbling stone
or brick, excessively peeling paint or other conditions reflective
of deterioration or inadequate maintenance to the end that the property
itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining
properties and the neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
G. No person shall park, stop or stand any motor vehicle
or permit or suffer the same to be done in any front yard area of
premises occupied by a dwelling, except on driveways and parking areas
constructed and installed in compliance with applicable laws.
Every dwelling and accessory structure, and
every part thereof, shall be kept structurally sound and in a state
of good repair to avoid safety, health or fire hazards, including:
A. Exterior walls, sidings and roofs shall be kept structurally
sound, in good repair and free from defects.
B. All exposed surfaces susceptible to decay shall at
all times be kept painted or otherwise provided with a protective
coating sufficient to prevent deterioration.
C. Every dwelling shall be so maintained as to be weather-
and watertight. Exterior walls, roofs, windows, window frames, doors,
door frames, foundations and other parts of the structure shall be
so maintained as to keep water from entering the structure 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 and seepage.
Basements, cellars and crawl spaces are to be
free of moisture resulting from seepage, and cross ventilation shall
be required where necessary to prevent accumulations of moisture and
dampness.
All parts of the premises shall be maintained
so as to prevent infestation.
All parts of the dwelling shall be kept in a
clean and sanitary condition, free of nuisances and free from health,
safety and fire hazards, including the following:
A. No accumulation or obstruction from garbage, refuse
or rubbish shall be permitted on common stairways, areaways, balconies,
porches, hallways, basements or cellars, except that garbage stored
in proper containers may be set out for removal.
B. Floors of every structure shall be structurally sound
and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Floors shall be
considered to be structurally sound when capable of safely bearing
imposed loads and shall be maintained at all times in a condition
so as to be smooth, clean and free from cracks, breaks and other hazards.
C. Bathroom, water closet compartment and kitchen floors
shall be surfaced with water-resistant material and shall be kept
at all times in a dry, clean and sanitary condition, and shower room
floors shall be kept clean and sanitary. This subsection shall apply
only to buildings constructed after the effective date of this chapter.
D. Floors of basements and cellars shall be paved with
concrete not less than four inches thick and shall be maintained at
all times in a condition so as to be smooth, clean and free from cracks,
breaks and other hazards. This subsection shall apply only to buildings
constructed after the effective date of this chapter.
E. Supporting structural members are to be kept structurally
sound, free from deterioration and capable of bearing imposed loads
safely.
F. Walls and ceilings shall be considered to be in good
repair when clean and free from cracks, breaks, loose plaster and
similar conditions. Walls shall be provided with paint, paper, sealing
material or other protective coating so that the said walls and ceilings
shall be kept clean, free of visible foreign matter, sanitary and
well maintained.
G. Interior stairs of every structure used for human
habitation shall be structurally sound and free from defects. Handrails
or banisters shall be provided for all stairs, balconies, fire escapes
and stairwells, and the handrails or banisters shall be securely attached,
shall be maintained free from defects, shall be of sufficient heights
to guard against accidents and shall be appropriate for use by persons
of normal height utilizing the stairway. Stairs shall be adequately
lighted in all places, with control switches operative from each story
to permit safe use at night for persons ascending or descending.
H. Each dwelling unit containing cooking facilities shall
be provided with a watertight noncombustible container with a tight-fitting
lid for the temporary storage of rubbish, garbage and other refuse.
Where there are one or more occupants in a dwelling unit other than
the one occupied by the owner, the owner shall supply a waterproof,
noncorrosive, noncombustible container on the premises for the removal
of garbage and refuse.
I. The owner, operator and occupant shall have the duty
and responsibility of removing garbage.
J. Storage bins, rooms and areas shall not be used for accumulated garbage or refuse; provided, however, that enclosed spaces or rooms in the interior of dwellings which are used exclusively as garbage collection points and are equipped with garbage containers complying with Subsection
H herein, from which room or space containers are removed by the janitor at least once daily, shall not be prohibited. Flammable or combustible liquids or other materials may not be stored on the premises unless they are of a type approved for storage by fire prevention laws and regulations, and then only in such quantities and in such fireproof
storage containers as may be prescribed by the regulations.
K. In dwellings containing three or more dwelling units,
storage bins shall be of fireproof construction and shall contain
fireproof walls and partitions of at least two hours' rating and,
in addition thereto, shall have self-closing fireproof doors; provided,
however, that storage in existing framework, wood framework, wood
frame bins or nonfireproof storage areas shall be permitted, provided
that the storage of combustible materials, containers for the same
and means of storage shall be in compliance with regulations promulgated
by the enforcing officer with the approval of the Fire Chief and Fire
Inspector and designed to minimize the existence of fire hazards in
dwellings. Excessive accumulations of combustible materials are prohibited,
and responsibility for removal thereof shall be with the owner and
operator of the premises as well as the occupant to whom said materials
may belong. Where the storage areas or storage bins are available
to more than one tenant, the area shall be numbered or otherwise identified,
and a list of the names of the tenants utilizing such area shall be
kept available at all times, in the office of the person in charge
of the premises, for inspection by the enforcing officer and Fire
Inspector.
L. No charcoal or other cooking grills or devices shall
be permitted on balconies or other exterior portions of the building.
M. No indoor/outdoor carpeting or covering of any kind
shall be permitted on balconies or other exterior portions of multiple-residence
buildings.
[Added 1-4-1883 by L.L. No. 1-1983]
N. No composting or mulching of grass, leaves or other
material shall be permitted which results in insect or rodent infestation
or objectionable odors which can be perceived beyond the property
lines.
[Added 10-18-1983 by L.L. No. 4-1983]