713.03 - Standards relative to rodents, insects, vermin and other pests.
(A) The owner or person having charge is responsible for elimination of any rodents, insects, vermin, or other pests in a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units and on the premises thereof. The owner or person having charge is also responsible whenever improper rodent proofing of the premises causes the infestation.
(B) No owner or person having charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall accumulate garbage, rubbish, solid waste, boxes, lumber, scrap metal, motor vehicle bodies or inoperable motor vehicles, or any other materials in such a manner that may provide a rodent harborage, insect harborage, vermin harborage or other pest harborage in or about any dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises.
(C) No owner or person having charge of a business building or dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units shall accumulate or permit the accumulation of garbage, rubbish, solid waste, boxes, lumber, scrap metal, motor vehicle bodies or inoperable motor vehicles, or any other materials in such a manner that may provide a rodent harborage, insect harborage, vermin harborage or other pest harborage in or about the shared or public areas of that business building, dwelling, multiple dwelling or its premises.
(D) No owner or person having charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall store, place or allow to accumulate any materials which may serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents.
(E) Every dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises on which it is located shall be maintained in a rodent-free, insect-free, and rodent-proof condition.
(F) All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements, ground or first floors and roofs which have a half-inch (½) diameter or more opening shall be rodent-proofed in an approved manner if they are within forty-eight (48) inches of the existing exterior ground level immediately below such openings or if they may be reached by rodents from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires, cornices, stairs, roofs and other such items, such as trees or vines or by burrowing.
(G) All windows located at or near ground level used or intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at or near ground level, and all other exterior doorways which might provide an entry for rodents or other vermin shall be supplied with adequate screens or such other devices as will effectively prevent the entrance of rodents, insects, vermin and other pests into the structure.
(H) All sewers, pipes, drains or conduits and openings around such pipes and conduits shall be constructed to prevent the ingress and egress of rodents, insects and other pests to and from a building.
(I) Interior floors of basements, cellars, and other areas in contact with the soil shall be rodent-proofed or insect-proofed in a manner approved by and with materials acceptable to the director or a duly authorized representative.
(J) all fences shall be constructed of approved fencing material, shall be maintained in good condition, and shall not create a harborage for rodents.
(K) Accessory structures on the premises of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling or business building shall be rodent-proofed and free of insects and rodents, or such structures shall be removed from the premises.
(L) No person shall permit to accumulate on any premise, alley, street or sidewalk in the city, including the easements of those same premises, alleys, streets, and sidewalks, any of the following materials, but not limited to solid waste, lumber, bricks, stones, boxes, barrels, scrap metal, scrap lumber, bottles, cans, motor vehicle bodies or parts, containers or similar materials so that these materials will not create an actual or potential harborage for rodents or insects.
(M) No person shall place, leave, dump, or permit to accumulate any garbage, rubbish or solid waste in any dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building, premises, alley, street or sidewalk in the city, including the easements of those same premises, alleys, streets and sidewalks, so that same shall or may afford food or harborage for rodents or insects.
(N) The owner or person having charge of any vacant dwelling, vacant dwelling unit, vacant multiple dwelling, vacant business building or vacant premises shall maintain the structures, buildings, yards and premises thereof free from rodents, insects, vermin and other pests.
(O) The owner or person having charge of any dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall store firewood in a pest- and rodent-proof manner.
(Ord. 858-01 §§ 1 (part), 8 (part); Ord. No. 1247-2012, § 9, 7-30-2012; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
