NUISANCES

Meridian Code of Ordinances ch. 16, art. II

in effect

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-61 Conditions constituting.

Sec. 16-61. - Conditions constituting. Any house, structure, building, yard, lot, place or any matter or thing, anywhere within the corporate limits of the city of the kind or character herein below described, is hereby declared to be a nuisance: (1) Any matter or thing calculated to endanger the life or health of the citizens of the city, or of any neighborhood in which same may be, or calculated to produce or aggravate sickness or disease, or which is in such unsanitary condition as to be offensive to the sight or smell of persons residing or being in the neighborhood; (2) Any house, structure, excavation, or other matter or thing, liable to cause material hurt to any person; or (3) Calculated to endanger the safety of property; or (4) Anything that annoys or disturbs to an unreasonable degree the comfort of any of the citizens; (5) Anything, the existence or maintenance of which is prohibited by law; (6) Any other matter or thing, or condition thereof, which by law may be designated or held as a nuisance. (Code 1962, § 17-67)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-62 Causing, permitting prohibited.

Sec. 16-62. - Causing, permitting prohibited. Any person who shall do any act, or create, cause or permit within the city on land or premises owned by him or under his control, or in any street, avenue, alley or sidewalk, anything which is a nuisance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and in addition to any penalty prescribed upon condition thereof, the nuisance may be ordered abated by the mayor or the municipal judge at the expense of the defendant as hereinafter provided. (Code 1962, § 17-68)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-63 Notice to abate—Required; time allowed.

Sec. 16-63. - Notice to abate—Required; time allowed. Before any matter or thing shall be abated as a nuisance which itself is not prohibited by law, but which is considered a nuisance on account of its condition, or on account of the manner in which it is conducted, carried on, pursued or maintained, the person responsible therefor, and also the owner of the thing considered a nuisance, and the owner of the property on which the same may be, or the agent of such owner, if the owner himself be absent from the city, shall be, by an authorized officer, notified in writing of such nuisance, and required to abate the same in such manner as may be by the notice specified, and a reasonable time under the circumstances in each case, to be specified in the notice, shall be given such person or owner to abate, in the manner required, the nuisance complained of. The time allowed shall in no case be less than twenty-four (24) hours, unless the nuisance be of such a character as to demand a shorter time, and unless, further, it be such as demands and warrants immediate abatement without investigation by a court, as hereinafter provided for by this chapter. (Code 1962, § 17-69)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-64 Same—Form; officers authorized to issue.

Sec. 16-64. - Same—Form; officers authorized to issue. The notice required by the preceding section may, in all cases, be in a form similar to that specifically provided by section 16-74 of this chapter, for the removal of nuisances occasioned by unclean and filthy premises, and may be given: (1) By the chief of police or any police officer, the county health officer or an agent of the county health department, in all cases of nuisances considered as dangerous and detrimental to the health of the city, or of the neighborhood in which same may be, or offensive on account of unsanitary conditions; (2) By the chief of police, any police officer or by the building official, in all cases where the thing considered to be a nuisance is a building awning, wall or other similar structure, or a part of a building or other such structure, the existence or condition of which is regarded as rendering it, by reason of dilapidation, defective construction, or other similar cause, unsafe and dangerous to life or liable to work material hurt to any person, or to any person's property; (3) By the chief of police, any police officer, the building official, in all cases where the thing considered as being a nuisance is a telegraph, telephone, electric light or electric street railway pole or wire, or other electrical construction, the existence, condition or construction of which is regarded as rendering it unsafe and dangerous to life or liable to do material injury to person or property; (4) By the chief of police or any police officer, the chief of the fire department or any member of the fire department, in all cases where the matter or thing complained of is sparks from engines or elsewhere, rubbish, trash or refuse, oil, gunpowder, or any other inflammable material or substance, considered a nuisance, in dangerous proximity to buildings, and by reason of its character or situation, endangering the safety of property; (5) By the chief of police or any police officer in any and all other cases requiring a notice. (Code 1962, § 17-70)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-65 Failure to abate—Arrest, determination of nuisances.

Sec. 16-65. - Failure to abate—Arrest, determination of nuisances. If, after the expiration of the time allowed by the notice provided for by section 16-63, the alleged nuisance is not abated, removed, or satisfactorily remedied, complaint may be made on oath before the municipal judge by the officer who may have issued the notice, or by any other person, against the person notified and refusing, charging the existence and continuance of a nuisance, and alleging the nature and location thereof, and the person charged shall be arrested and held to answer accordingly; whereupon, the question as to whether or not the thing or conditions complained of is a nuisance as alleged shall be inquired into, tried and determined by the municipal judge, as other cases are tried. (Code 1962, § 17-71)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-66 Same—Trial procedure; penalty; order of abatement.

Sec. 16-66. - Same—Trial procedure; penalty; order of abatement. On the trail under the provisions of the preceding section, the municipal judge, after seeing that the defendant, or each of them, if there are more than one (1), has had the proper notice, shall hear such evidence as may be offered, and if necessary shall inspect the alleged nuisance, and shall render such judgment as the evidence warrants. If the charge be sustained, the municipal judge may, on conviction, impose upon the offender such penalty, in his discretion, as may be authorized, and, after such conviction, in addition thereto, may adjudge and condemn as a nuisance the thing complained of, and may order the abatement of the nuisance, specifying how it shall be done, whether the nuisance be removed or be remedied in a manner to be prescribed, and enter judgment accordingly. (Code 1962, § 17-72)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-67 Abatement by police chief authorized.

Sec. 16-67. - Abatement by police chief authorized. If the judgment of abatement be not complied with by the defendant as required within such time as may be granted, the chief of police shall proceed to abate the nuisance in the manner provided for in sections 16-76 to 16-79 of this chapter for the abatement of nuisances occasioned by unclean and filthy premises, and shall render account of the expense or cost thereof to the city council, to be recovered as provided for in such cases. The chief of police may, if necessary, employ any person who is specially qualified and competent to do or direct the particular work required; provided that, the work be such as requires the services and direction of one (1) specially qualified. (Code 1962, § 17-73)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-68 Complaint and investigation of nuisances.

Sec. 16-68. - Complaint and investigation of nuisances. Any person may make complaint of the existence of a nuisance to any officer authorized to require its abatement under the provisions of section 16-64 of this chapter. It shall be the duty of such officer to investigate the nuisance complained of and to notify the owner and require its abatement in the manner prescribed by this chapter, if, in the opinion of such officer, the thing complained of, or the conduct thereof, is a nuisance which should be abated, and if, further, it is a nuisance requiring a previous notice to abate. If such officer, for any cause, should decline or delay action, the person complaining may make complaint to the mayor against the offender, alleging the existence and continuance of the nuisance, whereupon the mayor may, by notice, require the abatement of the nuisance in the manner hereinbefore provided, and if not abated, like proceedings may be had as if the notice had been issued by an officer specially authorized. (Code 1962, § 17-74)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-69 Summary abatement authorized.

Sec. 16-69. - Summary abatement authorized. Whenever a nuisance is of such a character as to require immediate abatement, not permitting of the notice and investigation hereinbefore provided for, imminently dangerous to life, health, person or property, it shall be the duty of the chief of police or any other officer specially authorized, to remove or abate same without further investigation and delay. (Code 1962, § 17-75)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-70 Notice not required when act prohibited by law.

Sec. 16-70. - Notice not required when act prohibited by law. The notice required by the preceding sections of this article to be served before the institution of proceedings before the municipal judge, is not necessary in cases where the matter or thing or business pursuit complained of is in itself an offense constituting a nuisance, the maintenance or permission or doing or carrying on of which is prohibited by law, and for which a penalty is specifically prescribed. In any such case tried before the municipal judge, if the charge be sustained, the municipal judge may, on conviction, impose upon the offender such penalty, in his discretion, as may be authorized. After such conviction, the municipal judge may, in addition thereto, adjudge and condemn as a nuisance the thing complained of, or the room, building or other place where the prohibited business or acts are carried on or pursued, and may order the abatement of same in such lawful manner as he may prescribe, and enter judgment accordingly, notwithstanding the defendant may not have had previous notice to discontinue or abate same, and the chief of police shall proceed to execute the order of abatement as provided for in other cases. (Code 1962, § 17-76)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-71 Each day's continuation declared separate offense.

Sec. 16-71. - Each day's continuation declared separate offense. Each day's continuance of a nuisance, under any provision of this article, after the same has been adjudged as such, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, and the offender shall be subject to arrest, trial and punishment therefor accordingly; and such further orders for abatement of the nuisance may be made, on any such subsequent trial, as in the judgment of the municipal judge may seem necessary and proper. (Code 1962, § 17-77)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-72 Unsanitary conditions constituting nuisances—Specified.

Sec. 16-72. - Unsanitary conditions constituting nuisances—Specified. Any premises or grounds anywhere within the corporate limits of the city, occupied or unoccupied, especially any privy or vault, or any lot or stable where animals are kept, being, by reason of any kind of filth or stagnant water accumulating thereon, or from any other cause, in any unsanitary condition to such extent as is calculated to endanger the life or health of the citizens of the city, or of the neighborhood in which the same may be, or calculated to produce or aggravate sickness or disease, or to such extent as to be offensive to the sight or smell of persons residing or being in the neighborhood, are hereby declared to be nuisances, subject to being dealt with as hereinafter provided. (Code 1962, § 17-78)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-73 Same—Refusal to abate after notice.

Sec. 16-73. - Same—Refusal to abate after notice. The owner of any premises in a condition as specified in the preceding section, and likewise the occupant or lessee thereof, who, being responsible as hereinbefore provided, shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this chapter requiring owners, occupants and lessees of occupied and unoccupied premises and grounds to keep them in proper sanitary condition, on being required and notified in writing to do so by order of the county health department, by the county health officer, the chief of police or any policeman, or by such other officer as may at the time be, by ordinance, authorized, within twenty-four (24) hours after service of such notice, or within such longer time as may be designated by the notice, shall be subject to arrest and trial before the municipal judge on a charge of committing or maintaining a nuisance. (Code 1962, § 17-79)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-74 Same—Form of notice to abate.

Sec. 16-74. - Same—Form of notice to abate. The notice required by the preceding section may be in the following or a similar form, care being taken to designate the premises with reasonable and sufficient certainty: Meridian, Miss., _______ To _______ You are hereby required and notified to abate a nuisance on your premises, No. _______, _______ street, (or avenue, as the case may be), occupied by _______ in this city, caused by _____ _____ This you will do at your own expense. If the said nuisance is not abated within _______ hours (or days, if a number of days be given) from the service of this notice, I will proceed as the law directs. Respectively, _____ (Code 1962, § 17-80)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-75 Same—Determination of existence of nuisance; penalty; order to police chief to abate.

Sec. 16-75. - Same—Determination of existence of nuisance; penalty; order to police chief to abate. The question of the existence of the alleged nuisance shall be tried and determined by the municipal judge, if the notice be not complied with as provided by section 16-66 of this chapter. On the trial, the municipal judge, after seeing to it that the defendant has received the required notice, shall carefully inquire, through the testimony of witnesses as in other cases, or by a personal inspection of the premises, as to the conditions which are alleged and charged as being a nuisance. If on such trial the defendant be adjudged guilty, a fine in such sum as may be authorized, in the municipal judge's discretion, shall be imposed. On such conviction, the municipal judge further may order that the nuisance be abated and direct that the chief of police execute the order of abatement, and judgment shall be entered accordingly. (Code 1962, § 17-81)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-76 Same—Duty of police chief to abate.

Sec. 16-76. - Same—Duty of police chief to abate. After judgment ordering the abatement of a nuisance as above provided, it shall be the duty of the chief of police to have the premises cleaned by the removal therefrom of the filthy, offensive or unsanitary substance or matter or thing, or to have them drained and freed of the stagnant water, as the order and circumstances in the case require, and to have the premises disinfected, all to such extent as may be necessary to comply with the judgment and order of the court. (Code 1962, § 17-82)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-77 Same—Use of city equipment and employees, private contractors to abate; lien for costs.

Sec. 16-77. - Same—Use of city equipment and employees, private contractors to abate; lien for costs. For the purpose of abating any nuisance, as required by the preceding section, the chief of police may, under the direction of the mayor, use or direct the use of such vehicles and equipment belonging to the city, together with sufficient laborers employed by the city, as may be necessary to accomplish such abatement. If for any reason it is necessary, the chief of police may employ any competent person, not connected with the city, as a private contractor to do the whole or part of work ordered. The cost or expense of doing such work, whether done by the city or by any other person as above provided, shall be borne by the city and made a charge against the owner and occupant and a lien against the property, as authorized by the charter of the city. (Code 1962, § 17-83)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-78 Same—Failure of owner to pay abatement costs; report to tax collector, assessor, city council; payment by city.

Sec. 16-78. - Same—Failure of owner to pay abatement costs; report to tax collector, assessor, city council; payment by city. If the owner or occupant of the premises cleaned as provided by the preceding section, shall not immediately pay to the chief of police the cost incurred in doing same, it shall be the duty of the chief of police to report such costs in writing, itemized, to the tax collector, and also to the city council as their next regular meeting thereafter. Such account or bill of costs, or such part thereof as may be reasonable and just, shall be approved by the city council, and if the report of the chief of police and the bill show that the work was done by any other person than the employees of the city, payment of the same shall be ordered. (Code 1962, § 17-84)

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-79 Same—Collection of costs from owner, occupant.

Sec. 16-79. - Same—Collection of costs from owner, occupant. The cost shall be assessed, with twenty-five (25) percent damages, and the tax collector shall collect the same with the next accruing city taxes, unless the city council elect to recover same of the owner or occupant of the property by suit in a court of competent jurisdiction, in which event it shall be so ordered by the city council, and the assessor and the collector of taxes shall be given such instructions as to their further duties with respect to such assessment and collection as may be deemed necessary. (Code 1962, § 17-85)

Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16OFMIPR_ARTIINUFetched: 11/1/2026