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City of Mendota, IL
LaSalle County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota as Ch. 14 of the 1998 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 129.
Electrical standards — See Ch. 147.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 158.
Plumbing standards — See Ch. 229.
Sewer use — See Ch. 245.
Water and sewer connections — See Ch. 318.
Zoning — See Ch. 340.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
OWNERS AND OPERATORS
The owners of the trailer coach park, if under sole proprietorship, or the operator of a leased park or the manager of a trailer court or trailer park or corporation shall be the person or officer responsible to make application to the City Clerk of the City of Mendota, Illinois, for all fees and charges hereinafter set out.
TRAILER
Includes the words "house-trailer," "house-car," "automobile trailer," "trailer coach" and "camp car," and means any structure for, or used for, living or sleeping purposes mounted upon wheels and capable of being transported from place to place by its own power or some vehicle attached to it, but not including any vehicle operated over fixed rails.
TRAILER PARK
A plot of ground where two or more trailers used as living or sleeping quarters may be located, regardless of whether or not a charge is made for such accommodation.
TRAILER SPACE
A plot of ground within a trailer park designed for the accommodation of one trailer.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain any trailer used for human habitation, upon any plot of ground in the City, except in licensed trailer parks, or as otherwise provided for in this chapter.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove the wheels or other transporting device from any trailer, or otherwise to affix said vehicle permanently to the ground so as to prevent ready removal of any such vehicle, in any location other than a duly licensed trailer park.
A. 
Application. It shall be unlawful for any person to establish or operate any trailer park within the City without a license therefor.
B. 
Plans. An applicant for a license to maintain or operate a trailer park shall file a written application with the City Clerk stating the name and address of the applicant, name and address of the owner or manager of said park, location of the park ground, and the maximum number of spaces the park will accommodate, along with a fee for each space so being used as set from time to time by the City Council. Any new application involving new trailer parks or new applications which would involve additional sites in trailer parks shall be charged a fee for each site up to January 1 of the following year in an amount as set from time to time by the City Council. Any application made after January 1 of any year shall be charged a fee as set from time to time by the City Council, which shall expire on the next August 1. The trailer owner and operator, herein defined, shall make an application with the City Clerk of Mendota, Illinois, August 1 of each and every year thereafter and shall make an application and pay the fee for any additional spaces as provided herein. The application shall be accompanied by plans of the park, showing the proposed or existing locations of all buildings, structures, toilets, baths, wash basin facilities, slop sinks, water faucets, sewer or septic tank connections, driveways and other improvements, in compliance with § 282-6, together with such further information as may be reasonably requested by the City Clerk to assist in determining if the proposed park will comply with the legal requirements.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Investigation. The Water and Wastewater Superintendent and the Building Inspector of the City of Mendota shall investigate the character of the applicant, the proposed park premises, the plans and specifications of all buildings, sanitation facilities and other improvements constructed or to be constructed within the trailer park. If the applicant is found to be in compliance with this chapter and other applicable ordinances and statutes, the City Clerk shall issue the license upon approval of the application by the Water and Wastewater Superintendent and the Building Inspector.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
Transfer. Upon application for a transfer of the license, the City Clerk shall issue a transfer if the Water and Wastewater Superintendent and the Building Inspector shall report that the transferee is of good moral character.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
E. 
Posting of license. The license certificate shall be conspicuously posted in the office of, or on the premises of, the trailer park at all times.
A. 
No person shall establish or locate any trailer park in a district zoned for residential purposes.
B. 
No person shall establish any trailer park on any lot or area in any block within the corporate limits of the City of Mendota in which more than 1/3 of the buildings in such block are dwelling houses, apartments, churches, schools, or hospitals, unless a majority of the property owners according to area within 820 feet of any part of such trailer park consents thereto in writing.
C. 
In case the proposed location of any trailer park is in any area within the jurisdiction of the City but such location or area is not plotted into a City block or blocks, then such trailer park shall not be established unless at least 1/2 of the property owners according to area within 200 feet of any part of such proposed trailer park consent thereto in writing.
D. 
In no case shall the consent of any railroad company be required as to the railroad right-of-way property, and the consent or non-consent of any property owner shall be disregarded and not counted according to area within such 820 feet, and 200 feet, respectively, if such property is separated from the trailer park area by a railroad right-of-way.
E. 
The property owned at 1200 First Street, Mendota, LaSalle County, Illinois, shall at no time have more than three trailers and one double-wide trailer located on the premises.
The number of commercial trailer parks within the corporate limits of the City is hereby limited to not more than three trailer parks at any time. A commercial trailer park is any location on which one or more trailers are parked, and on which a rental or fee for such parking or service is charged, whether the trailer is owned by the individual or rented from the trailer park owner.
A trailer park shall conform to the following requirements:
A. 
The park shall be located on a well-drained site, properly graded to ensure good drainage and freedom from stagnant pools of water.
B. 
Trailer spaces shall be provided consisting of a minimum of 1,000 square feet for each space, which shall be at least 25 feet wide. Trailers shall be so harbored on each space that there shall be at least a ten-foot clearance between trailers and/or buildings. No trailer shall be located closer than two feet to any property line bounding the park; provided, however, that as to any trailer park now in existence and hereinafter established, no trailer park shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line bounding the park.
C. 
All trailer spaces shall abut upon a driveway of not less than 20 feet in width, which shall have unobstructed access to a public street, alley or highway. All driveways shall be hard surfaced, well marked in the daytime and lighted at night. In the event that such driveways cannot be utilized as walkways to the service building or buildings, walkways, not less than two feet wide, shall be provided from trailer spaces to the service building or buildings, such walkways to be hard surfaced, well marked in the daytime and adequately lighted at night.
D. 
Each park shall provide at least one service building, adequate to house necessary toilet facilities, bathing facilities, laundry facilities and other sanitary facilities as hereinafter are more particularly described.
E. 
An electrical outlet supplying at least 110 volts shall be provided for each trailer space.
An adequate supply of City water for drinking and domestic purposes shall be supplied to meet the requirements of a trailer park. Water shall be obtained from faucets provided and/or connections direct to the trailer. Faucets shall be conveniently located in said trailer park. No common drinking cups are permitted.
Each trailer park shall be provided with toilets, baths or showers, slop sinks and other sanitation facilities which shall conform to the following requirements:
A. 
Toilet facilities for men and women shall be either in separate buildings at least 20 feet apart or shall be separated, if in the same building, by a soundproof wall.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Toilet facilities for women shall consist of not less than one flush toilet for every 10 trailer spaces, one shower or bathtub for every 10 trailer spaces and one lavatory for every 20 trailer spaces. Each toilet, shower and bathtub shall be in a private compartment.
C. 
Toilet facilities for men shall consist of not less than one flush toilet for every 15 trailer spaces, one shower or bathtub for every 15 trailer spaces, one lavatory for every 10 trailer spaces and one urinal for every 15 trailer spaces. Each toilet, shower and bathtub shall be in a private compartment.
D. 
Service buildings housing the toilet facilities shall be permanent structures complying with all applicable ordinances and statutes regulating buildings, electrical installations and plumbing and sanitation systems, and shall be located not closer than 10 feet to nor farther than 200 feet from any trailer space.
E. 
The service buildings shall be equipped with good lighting facilities, shall be well ventilated with screened openings, shall be constructed of such moisture-proof material, including painted woodwork, as shall permit repeated cleaning and washing, and shall be maintained at a temperature of at least 68° F. during the period from October 1 to May 1. The floors of service buildings shall be of water-impervious material and shall slope to a floor drain connected with a sewage or septic tank system.
F. 
All service buildings and the grounds of the park shall be maintained in a clean, sightly condition and kept free of any condition that will menace the health of any occupant, or the public, or constitute a nuisance.
A. 
The laundry facilities in a trailer park shall be provided in the ratio of one double laundry tub for every 20 trailer spaces. Drying spaces shall be provided sufficient to accommodate the laundry of the trailer occupants. The service building housing the laundry facilities shall be a permanent structure complying with all applicable ordinances and statutes regulating buildings, electrical installations, and plumbing and sanitation systems.
B. 
Waste from showers, bathtubs, toilets, slop sinks and laundries shall be discharged into a public sewer system in compliance with applicable ordinances or into a private sewer and disposal plant or septic tank system of such construction and in such manner as will present no health hazard. All kitchen sinks, wash basins, bath or shower tubs in any trailer harbored in any park may empty into a sanitary sink drain located on the trailer space. It shall be unlawful to permit any wastewater or material from toilets, showers, bathtubs, wash basins, laundries, or other plumbing fixtures in the park or trailer to be deposited upon the surface of the ground, and all such fixtures, when in use, must be connected to the City of Mendota sewer system by means of approved watertight connections or to a separate tank system of such construction and in such manner as will present no health hazard.
Tightly covered metal garbage cans shall be provided in a trailer park in quantities adequate to permit disposal of all garbage and rubbish. Garbage cans shall be located not farther than 200 feet from any trailer space. The cans shall be kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected and disposed of by the park manager as frequently as may be necessary to ensure that the garbage cans shall not overflow.
A trailer park shall be kept properly and adequately lighted at all times so that the grounds shall be safe for occupants and visitors.
Each trailer park shall be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher and an additional fire extinguisher, all in good working order, for every 10 trailer spaces, located not farther than 200 feet from each trailer space. Reasonable care shall be exercised by the park manager in the control of bonfires or other fire hazards within the park area.
Nothing contained in this chapter prohibits the storage of any trailer on the home premises of its owner for any length of time when the vehicle is not used for living or sleeping purposes, provided that it shall not be a nuisance, does not constitute a hazard and complies with the requirements of Chapter 340, Zoning, of the City Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The premises and facilities of all trailer parks located within the City shall be maintained or operated by the licensees or permit holders, or by other persons responsible therefor, in a neat and orderly condition and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and of all applicable public health regulations and laws of the State of Illinois. The City Council may revoke any license to maintain and operate a trailer park after inspection and examination by the Building Inspector, Water and Wastewater Superintendent or Chief of Police, and when the licensee has been found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of violating any provision of this chapter and competent evidence of such conviction has been presented to and filed with the Council. After such conviction, the license may be reissued if the circumstances leading to the conviction have been remedied and the park is being maintained and operated in full compliance with law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Whenever in any case the written consents of adjacent property owners or tenants are required for the issuance of a permit or license, such written consents (or a duplicate copy thereof) shall be filed for permanent record with the City Clerk of the City of Mendota prior to the issuance of such permit or license, or renewal thereof.
Trailer parks established or substantially completed as of September 6, 1949, shall not be required, for the purpose of the issuance of license, to comply with § 282-4; provided, however, that the area of such park shall not be enlarged except with the approval of the City Council.
No owner or person in charge of any dog, cat or other pet animal shall permit it to commit any nuisance within the limits of any trailer park.
It shall be permissible hereunder for a bona fide guest of the householder to park a trailer in the yard of any dwelling house for a period of time not to exceed 15 days; provided, however, such trailer may be used only for sleeping purposes during such fifteen-day period and does not constitute a fire hazard.
Any person or corporation or trailer court owner or operator or manager violating any provision of this chapter shall be fined as set forth in Chapter 1, Article III, Penalties and Enforcement, of the City Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).