Public Nuisances

Weedy Lot, Rubbish, and Rat Harborage

These type of violations cover a broad category of common occurrences in both inhabited and uninhabited property. A violation of Ordinance #2012-05 includes:

• properties where weeds, grass, brush or other rank vegetation is allowed to grow to a height exceeding 12”
• properties that have an accumulation of rubbish, trash, refuse, and other abandoned materials, metals, lumber or other things
• properties which have any condition that provides an area for rats, mice, snakes or other vermin to live
• properties that allow accumulation of stagnant water
• discarded or abandoned appliances with doors
• properties that allow any condition that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property of surrounding property owners
• accumulation of dead and putrefying flesh of any type of animal

Residents are also required to maintain the right-of-way adjacent to their property in the front up to the city street including sidewalks if they exist, and if an alley (or utility easement) exists to the rear of their property they are required to maintain up to the centerline of that alley (and the entire easement existing within their property). This includes any trees or vegetation existing in the front right-of-way and any vegetation existing in the alley (no trees are permitted in an alley)

Any property owner found to be in violation of Ordinance #2012-05 will be provided a written notice either hand-delivered or mailed via certified mail to the address listed in the county appraisal district latest tax rolls. The notification will give the owner of record, 10 days to address the violation or contact the City for a reasonable extension of time. After that time, the City will correct the violation and charge reasonable expenses and administrative fee to the property owner. The original notification will also inform the property owner that this will be the only notification they will receive for the violation within a one year time period. If future violations occur within the same year the City can immediately take action and bill the property owner for the cost of correction.

Junk Vehicles

Regulation of junk or abandoned motor vehicles is contained within the City Code of Ordinances, Article II, Section 18.

An abandoned motor vehicle is one that is inoperable and over eight (8) years old and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours. It can also be defined as a motor vehicle on private property without the consent of the property owner for more than 48 hours.

A junk vehicle is defined as any motor vehicle which is self-propelled that is inoperative and which does not have lawfully affixed to it both an unexpired license plat and a valid motor vehicle safety inspection certification and which is wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or discarded.

A junk vehicle becomes a public nuisance when it is located any place it is visible from a public place or public right-of-way, is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tending to reduce the value of private property, to invite vandalism, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to health and safety of minors, or is detrimental to the economic welfare of the city by producing blight which is adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the city.