[Adopted 10-7-1998 by Ord. No. 351 as Title 15, Ch. 5, of
the 1998 Code]
This article shall be known as the "Village of Randolph Commercial
Property Exterior Maintenance Code."
A.
This article is adopted for the purpose of preserving and promoting
the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general
welfare of the people of the Village and environs. This includes,
among others, physical, aesthetic and monetary values.
B.
It is recognized that there may now be or may, in the future, be
commercial buildings, structures, yards, or vacant areas and combinations
thereof which are so dilapidated, unsafe, dangerous, unhygienic, or
inadequately maintained so as to constitute a menace to the health,
safety, and general welfare of the people. The establishment and enforcement
of minimum commercial property maintenance standards is necessary
to preserve and promote the private and public interest.
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to recognize the private
and public benefits resulting from the safe, sanitary, and attractive
maintenance of commercial buildings, structures, yards, or vacant
areas. Attractive and well-maintained property will enhance the neighborhood
and Village and provide a suitable environment for increasing physical
and monetary values.
B.
Minimum requirements. Every owner or operator shall improve and maintain
all property under their control to comply with the following minimum
requirements:
(1)
Drainage. All courts, yards, or other areas on the premises shall
be properly graded to divert water away from any building or structure.
(2)
Weeds. All exterior property areas shall be kept free from noxious
weeds as required by this Code. Where weed cutting is required, the
Weed Commissioner shall perform said weed cutting and process the
charge therefor as a special assessment against the benefited property.
(3)
Debris. All exterior property areas shall be properly maintained
in a clean and sanitary condition free from debris, rubbish or garbage,
physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation, and animal feces.
All animal feces shall be removed within 24 hours.
(4)
Fences, walks, and parking areas. Fences, other minor construction,
walks, driveways, parking areas, and similar paved areas shall be
properly maintained in a safe, sanitary, and substantial condition.
Approved walks shall provide all-weather access to buildings or structures.
(5)
Exterior surfaces. Exterior surfaces of buildings and structures
not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be treated with a
protective coating of paint or other suitable preservative which will
provide adequate resistance to weathering and maintain an attractive
appearance. Any exterior surface treated with paint or other preservative
shall be maintained so as to prevent chipping, cracking or other deterioration
of the exterior surface or the surface treatment and to present an
attractive appearance. All paint or other preservative shall be applied
in a workmanlike fashion.
(6)
Yard areas. Yard areas of real estate shall not be permitted to deteriorate
or remain in a condition that is not in accord with the following:
Yard areas shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, free from
any accumulation of combustible or noncombustible materials (which
are not used as an integral part of the authorized business carried
out on the premises), debris, or refuse. Unless in a properly zoned
district and screened by a visual barrier at least five feet high,
yards shall not be used to store appliances, furnaces, hot-water heaters,
water softeners, or building material not used within five days, or
any unsightly bulk items, unless these items are raw materials used
in the business carried out on the premises.
(7)
General requirements. Every foundation, exterior wall, and roof shall
be reasonably weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof and shall
be kept in proper repair and shall be capable of affording privacy.
Any hazardous sagging or bulging shall be properly repaired to a level
or plumb position. All chimneys and breeching shall be so constructed
and maintained so as to insure that it safely and properly removes
the products of combustion from the building.
(8)
Windows and doors. Every window, exterior door, and basement hatchway
shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight, and rodentproof and
kept in proper repair. All door and window hardware shall be installed
and maintained in proper working condition.
(9)
Outside stairs and porches. Every outside stair, every porch, and
every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to
use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to
be placed thereon and shall be kept in proper condition and repair
and shall present an attractive appearance. All exterior stairs and
steps and every appurtenance thereto shall comply with the requirements
specified in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
(10)
Removal of debris.
(a)
No person shall dispose of rocks, trees, stumps, waste building
material, or other debris from land development, building construction,
street grading, or installation of underground utilities upon the
surface of any land in the Village, except at approved disposal sites.
(b)
No landowner shall allow an accumulation of rocks, trees, stumps,
waste building material or other debris from land development, building
construction, street grading, or installation of underground utilities
upon the surface of his land for a period of more than 10 days.
(c)
All landfilling operations shall be leveled off to permit the
mowing of the weeds between June 1 and November 1. This includes the
removal of stones, bottles, wire, and other debris that will interfere
with mowing operations.
Every owner, operator, or occupant of a commercial property,
or part thereof, shall maintain that portion of the exterior of the
property controlled by him/her.
Whenever the Building Inspector determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this article or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor and commence an enforcement action pursuant to Article I of this chapter.