1.10.075 General maintenance of property.
In addition to other conditions defined to be nuisances in Chapters 1.10 through 1.16 or the municipal code, it is declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises in this city to maintain such premises in such manner that any of the following conditions, but not limited thereto, are found to exist thereon:
A. Buildings which are abandoned, partially destroyed, substantially deteriorated, or left unreasonably in a state of partial construction without an active building permit.
B. Unpainted, unmaintained and otherwise unprotected buildings causing deterioration in the form of dry rot, warping, buckling, twisting, bowing, and infestations of various kinds.
C. Broken windows constituting hazardous conditions and inviting trespassers, illegal and unauthorized uses, and malicious mischief.
D. Overgrown vegetation and weeds:
1. Causing detriment to neighboring properties or property values.
2. Causing a hazardous condition to pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic.
3. Likely to harbor rats, vermin and other nuisances.
4. Grasses and weeds over six inches in height.
E. Dead trees and debris:
1. Constituting unsightly appearance and/or odors.
2. Dangerous to public safety and welfare.
3. Detrimental to nearby property or property values.
4. A ready source of fuel for combustion.
F. Attractive nuisances dangerous or potentially dangerous to people in the form of:
1. Abandoned and/or broken equipment.
2. Pools, ponds or excavations without adequate barriers.
3. Neglected, unprotected and/or unsecured machinery.
4. Unsecured and unoccupied abandoned buildings and structures.
G. Items such as, and similar to, the following, and which are stored in yards and visible from public streets and/or other properties:
1. Trash, junk, garbage, rubbish and debris.
2. Household goods.
3. Mattresses.
4. Cans of stains, paints and solvents.
5. Vehicle and/or bicycle tires, tire racks, rims, wheels, etc.
6. Vehicles not parked on a permanent surface as defined by Section 11.070(F) of the city of Petaluma zoning ordinance.
7. Inoperative vehicles, vehicles in various states of disrepair and vehicle parts.
8. Cabinets.
9. Furniture.
10. Clothing.
11. Appliances.
12. Boxes.
13. Construction materials and/or tools.
14. Yard and garden equipment in excess of that which is reasonable and acceptable for maintaining the property at which it is located.
15. Bicycles, scooters and like items in excess of that which is reasonable for use by the current occupants of a property.
16. Items of any sort or of any quantity that are evidence of an illegal operation or business, or create the appearance thereof.
17. Any other refuse or waste.
18. Trash, garbage or refuse cans, bins, boxes or other such containers.
19. Shopping carts.
20. The accumulation of dirt.
21. Yards that are not graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil and prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any structure located thereon.
H. Maintenance of premises in such condition as to be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare or in such manner as to constitute a public nuisance as defined by Civil Code Section 3480.
I. Any building, structure or portion thereof built to code standards applicable at the time of original construction, or areas of access which have any of the following conditions or defects to a significant degree or as otherwise noted:
1. Whenever any door, aisle, passageway, stairway, window or other means of exit is not of sufficient dimensions, or is not arranged so as to provide safe and adequate means of egress, in case of fire or panic, for all persons housed or assembled therein who would be required to, or might, use such door, aisle, passageway, stairway, window or other means of exit.
2. Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by earthquake, wind, flood, rain or by any other cause, in such a manner that the structural strength, stability or integrity thereof is appreciably less than is suitable for occupancy and is less than the minimum requirements of building code regulations enforced by the city.
3. Whenever any portion of a building or any member, appurtenance or ornamentation on the exterior thereof is likely to fall or to become detached or dislodged or to collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property.
4. Whenever any building, portion of a building or any member, appurtenance or ornamentation on the exterior thereof is not of sufficient strength or stability or is not so anchored, attached, or fastened in place so as to be capable of resisting wind pressure, earthquake forces, live loads or dead loads as specified in the building code regulations enforced by the city without exceeding the working stresses permitted therein.
5. Whenever any portion thereof has settled or otherwise been repositioned or reconfigured so that structural portions of buildings and structures have less resistance to winds, earthquakes and/or other forces than is adequate for safe occupancy and/or as is otherwise required by building code regulations enforced by the city.
6. Whenever buildings or structures, or any portion thereof, because of dilapidation, deterioration, decay, faulty construction, infestations or the removal, loss, or movement of a portion of the soil necessary to adequately support such building, structure or portion thereof, or some other cause, are likely to partially or completely collapse, or some portion of the foundation or underpinning is likely to fail, or otherwise fall or give way.
7. Whenever, for any reason whatsoever, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose for which it is used or intended to be used.
8. Whenever the building or structure has been so damaged by fire, wind, earthquake, or flood, or has become so dilapidated or deteriorated as to become an attractive nuisance to children who might play therein to their danger, or as to afford a harbor for vagrants, criminals or immoral persons, or as to enable persons to resort thereto for the purpose of committing nuisances or unlawful or immoral acts.
9. Whenever a building or structure which has been constructed now exists or is maintained in violation of any requirements or prohibitions, applicable to such building or structure, of the building and housing code regulations enforced by the city.
10. Whenever a building or structure, used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes because of dilapidation, decay, damage, or faulty construction or arrangement, or otherwise is unsanitary or unfit for human habitation or is in a condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease when so determined by the health officer, or is likely to contribute injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living within.
11. Whenever a building or structure, by reason of obsolescence, dilapidation, deterioration, damage, substandard electric wiring, gas connections, or heating apparatus, or similar conditions, is in such condition as to be a fire hazard and is so situated as to endanger life or other buildings or property in the vicinity, or provide a ready fuel supply to augment the spread and intensity of fire arising from any cause.
12. Whenever any sidewalk or driveway is debilitated, broken, damaged, or raised to such a degree as to be injurious to property or persons using the same.
13. Whenever the walking surface of any aisle, passageway, stairway or other means of exit is so warped, worn, loose, torn or otherwise unsafe as to not provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic.
14. Whenever the stress in any materials, member or portion thereof, due to all live and dead loads, is more than the imposed design loads.
15. Whenever any portion of a building or structure remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of the building or structure or whenever any building or structure is abandoned for a period in excess of two months.
(Ord. 2385 NCS §1 (part), 2010; Ord. 2250 NCS §3 (part), 2006. Formerly 1.10.060.)