Property Maintenance

Property maintenance is best defined as any preventive or reactive maintenance action taken to keep a property in its best condition.

301.2 Responsibility

The owner of the premises shall maintain the structures and exterior property in compliance with these requirements, except a otherwise provided for in this code. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit another person to occupy premises which are not in a sanitary and safe condition and which do not comply with the requirements of this chapter. Occupants of a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit are responsible for keeping in a clean, sanitary and safe condition that part of the dwelling unit, rooming unit, housekeeping unit or premises which they occupy and control.

The following items are the most common property maintenance issues:

Weeds

All premises and exterior property, as well as the parkway adjacent to said parcel of property, shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six inches (6”). All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs. However, this term shall not include cultivated flowers or gardens.

Accumulation of Rubbish or Garbage

All exterior property and premises, as well as the interior of every structure, shall be free from any accumulation of any rubbish or garbage. This also includes keeping garbage cans from overflowing and keeping garbage or rubbish from around the cans.

The refuse company will not pick up tires, electronic devices or paint or liquids.

Storage of Garbage and Recycling Receptacles

It shall be the responsibility of every person, in possession of any premises or residing at any premises within the village, to store yard waste containers, garbage containers, recyclable containers and bulk items at the side or rear of the property.

Receptacle placement hours: Garbage and recyclable receptacles shall be placed on the curb only for the period between the hours of six p.m. of the day preceding collection until seven p.m. of the day of collection.

Maintenance of Houses, Garages, Fences and Retaining Walls

All exterior surfaces, including but not limited to; doors, door and window frames, cornices, porches, trim, gutters, fascia, soffit, balconies, decks and fences, shall be maintained in good condition. Exterior wood surfaces, other than decay resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and decay by painting or other protective covering or treatment. Peeling, chipped or flaking paint shall be eliminated and the surfaces covered or repainted. All structures shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair. Broken glass in windows need to be repaired.

Maintenance of Concrete and Asphalt

Broken concrete on stairs, walkways and driveways must be repaired or replaced. Broken asphalt on driveways must be repaired or replaced.

Trees and Shrubs

Any tree or shrub which overhangs any sidewalk, street or other public place in such a way as to impede or interfere with traffic or travel on such public way, shall be trimmed by the owner of the abutting property on which the tree or shrub grows. Dead trees or branches shall be removed from property.

Discharge of Downspouts and Pumps

Roof drains, gutters, downspouts and sump pumps shall not be discharged in a location that does not provide at least five feet of pervious surface between the point of discharge and any property line or in any manner or location that results in standing water or the formation of ice of any thickness on sidewalks, public alleys or the paved portion of the roadway within the public right- of- way.

Maintenance of Roofs

The roof and flashings shall be sound, tight and not have any defects that admit rain. Bad or missing shingles need to be replaced or repaired. Roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent dampness or deterioration in the walls or interior portion of the structure. Roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstruction.

Addresses

It shall be the responsibility of the owner and occupant of every house or other principle building on any lot in the village to have placed thereon, in a place visible from the street, numerals at least two and one-half inches high, showing the number of the house or building. Properties to which access can be gained from an alley shall have placed on the building that faces closest to the alley, numerals at least two and one-half inches high visible from the alley, showing the number of the house or building. All numerals and backgrounds shall be of contrasting colors.

Yard Waste

Grass clippings, leaves and tree trimmings shall not be deposited in any street, alley, or other public place. Branches can be placed on the parkway for pickup, on Tuesdays, during the summer months.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

Temporary electrical power and lighting installations shall be permitted for a period, not to exceed ninety days, for holiday for holiday decorative lighting and similar purposes.

Cats and Dogs

It is unlawful to permit any cat or dog to be upon any public place, on any public street or sidewalk, or on any private properties not enclosed by an adequate fence or wall unless such cat or dog is securely leashed. It is unlawful, and it is declared a nuisance, for a person having control of any dog or cat on a leash or any owner of a dog or cat to knowingly or negligently allow or permit such dog or cat to urinate or defecate on or upon any property other than the property of the owner or person in control of such dog or cat. Pet feces must be picked up, daily, on any property, including the pet owners. It is unlawful to harbor or keep any animal which disturbs the peace by loud noises at any time of the day or night.

Commercial Vehicles

No vehicle having a gross vehicle weight (GVW) in excess of eight thousand (8,000) pounds, buses, tow trucks, construction and contractors equipment, materials, supplies and tools, including the trailers used to haul such items and snow plow blades, shall be stored or parked on any lot in any residence district, unless:

(a) Such vehicle, equipment, supplies or tools are wholly enclosed within a building, or

(b) such vehicle, equipment, supplies or tools are being used in connection with a legitimate service actually being rendered for the benefit of such lot.

The outdoor storage or parking of any unoccupied taxi cab, limousine, or any other vehicle used to transport individuals for hire, regardless of gross vehicle weight (GVW) or state license designation and the outdoor storage of any “prohibited vehicle” as defined in Section 10.26.010 – Definitions of Village Code, is prohibited within all residential districts.

Inoperable Vehicles

Inoperable or unlicensed vehicles shall not be stored, outside, on any property. Inoperable vehicles are those which are unlicensed, do not run, have flat tires, are in disrepair, are in disrepair or have excessive damage.

Trailers, Boats and RV’s

Trailers, RV’s and boats shall not be permitted in any district, as accessory uses on a lot. Unless kept inside of an entirely enclosed building, one boat owned by the occupant of the dwelling may be stored or parked in the rear yard of a lot containing single-family detached dwelling, for 14 days in any 90 day period, provided no major repair, disassembly or rebuilding operations are conducted.

Feeding of Animals

It is unlawful for any person or property owner to feed or allow the feeding of wildlife by placing or leaving