Village of Inglewood
ARTICLE 5 – WEEDS, JUNK CARS, LITTER AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS REGULATIONS
SECTION 2-501: DEFINITIONS
1. The terms "weeds, grasses or worthless vegetation" shall mean any weed or grass growth of more than 12 inches in height. Weeds shall include, but not be limited to, bindweed, puncture vine, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, perennial peppergrass, Russian knapweed, Johnson grass, nodding or musk thistle, quack grass, perennial sow thistle, horse nettle, bull thistle, buckthorn, hemp plant and ragweed.▫
2. The term "litter" shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage, paper, rags and ashes; ▫
B. Wood, plaster, cement, brick or stone building rubble; ▫
C. Grass, leaves and worthless vegetation; ▫
D. Offal and dead animals; ▫
E. Any machine, vehicle or parts of a machine or vehicle which have lost their identity, character, utility or serviceability as such through deterioration, dismantling or the ravages of time, are inoperative or unable to perform their intended functions, or are cast off, discarded or thrown away or left as waste, wreckage or junk; ▫
F. Any motor vehicle not housed in a storage or other building and not being currently licensed. ▫
3. The term "dangerous building" as used in this article is hereby defined to mean and include: ▫
A. Any building, shed, fence or other man-made structure which is dangerous to the public health because of its condition and which may cause or aid in the spread of disease or injury to the health of its occupants or those of neighboring structures; ▫
B. Any building, shed, fence or other man-made structure which, because of faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair or any other cause, is especially liable to fire and constitutes or creates a fire hazard; ▫
C. Any building, shed, fence or other man-made structure which, because of faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair or any other cause, is liable to cause injury or damage by collapsing or by a collapse of any part of such structure; ▫
D. Any building, shed, fence or other man-made structure which, because of its condition or because of lack of doors or windows or broken windows or doors permits the entry of birds and animals or is an attraction for children or other persons to enter. ▫
SECTION 2-502: PUBLIC NUISANCE; GRASSES OR WEEDS
It is hereby declared to be a public nuisance to permit grasses to grow in excess of 12 inches or to permit weeds of any height to be grown on any property within the corporate limits of the Village. ▫
SECTION 2-503: PUBLIC NUISANCE; LITTER OR DANGEROUS BUILDING
It is hereby declared to be a public nuisance to permit the accumulation of litter or to maintain a dangerous building on any property within the Village. ▫
SECTION 2-504: ABATEMENT
Whenever the Village Board or any member thereof, or other village official, receives a written complaint of violation of any of the terms of this article, such complaint shall be brought before the Board for consideration. If the Board by motion or resolution determines that any grass in excess of 12 inches or weeds of any height are growing on property within the Village, or litter is found on any property, or that any building or structure is a dangerous building, the village clerk shall cause written notice to be served upon the owner of the property on which grass, weeds, litter or such dangerous building is located, and further, upon the occupant thereof by registered mail or by personal service. If notice by personal service or certified mail is unsuccessful, notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village or by conspicuously posting the notice on the lot or property upon which the nuisance is to be abated or removed. Such notice shall state that the premises have thereon grass in excess of 12 inches, weeds or litter or that the building situated thereon has been declared to be in a dangerous condition. The notice shall state that the grass in excess of 12 inches, weeds, litter or dangerous building must be removed or remedied within 15 days of receipt of notice. ▫
SECTION 2-505: FAILURE TO CORRECT
In the event that the owner or occupant of said premises fails to correct and eliminate said nuisance pursuant to the notice to correct which was published, posted or delivered by the village clerk, the Village may institute an action in the County Court for violation of this ordinance or may bring a mandatory injunction action in District Court to abate such nuisance. ▫
SECTION 2-506: COST OF REMOVAL
If the owner or occupant of the lot or piece of ground fails to comply with the order to abate and remove the nuisance within 15 days from receipt of notice, the Village may also elect to have such work done and the cost and expense of such work shall be paid by the owner of the property. If unpaid for two months after such work is done, the Village may either levy and assess the costs and expenses of the work upon the lot or piece of ground so benefited in the same manner as other special taxes for improvements are levied and assessed, or recover in a civil action the costs and expenses of the work.