[HISTORY: Adopted by the Harford County Council
by Bill No. 77-88.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Nuisances by animals — See Ch. 64.
Drug paraphernalia — See Ch. 100.
Environmental control — See Ch. 109.
Littering — See Ch. 161.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 193.
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was included
as Sec. 12-3 and Ch. 12, Art. III, of the 1978 Code.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
affect in any manner any of the powers and duties of the Secretary
of the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or any public
general laws or regulations of the state relating to the subject of
health.
A.
In addition to what are declared in this chapter and
Code to be public nuisances, those offenses which are known under
state law as public nuisances may, in case any exist within the county
limits, be treated as such and be proceeded against as provided in
this chapter and Code or in accordance with any other provisions of
law.
B.
Wherever the word "nuisance" is used in this chapter,
it refers to a public nuisance.
A.
In all cases where any public nuisance, as defined,
enumerated or set forth by law, may be found or caused near to or
upon any public way or place or public property, it shall be the duty
of the county to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant of
any premises or other person causing such nuisance requiring such
owner or occupant or other person to abate such nuisance within a
reasonable time. If the owner or occupant of such premises or other
person causing such nuisance cannot be found, the notice shall be
posted upon such premises.
B.
It shall not be necessary for the county to designate
in the notice the manner in which any such nuisance will be abated,
unless the county shall deem it advisable to do so.
C.
If the owner or occupant of such premises or other person causing such nuisance shall refuse or neglect to abate such nuisance within the designated time after such notice is given, such person so violating this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the provisions of § 1-23 of this Code.
D.
In addition, the county may cause such nuisance to
be abated either summarily or in any manner authorized by law, including
the institution in the name of the county, against the owner or occupant
of such premises or other person, of an action therefor and for recovery
of the amount of expense of such abatement.
No building, vehicle, structure, receptacle,
yard, lot, premises or part thereof shall be made, used, maintained
or operated in the county in any manner causing or producing any nuisance
or that is detrimental or dangerous to health and safety.
No person shall burn in any furnace, grate, boiler or fireplace or upon any piece of ground within the limits of the county any substance containing rubber, zinc, lead, sulphuric acid or any other substance which emits poisonous or noxious gases, fumes or smoke which is dangerous, detrimental or injurious to the health, life, property and safety of the inhabitants of any area in the county and the general public. The violation of this section is hereby declared a public nuisance. In addition, any burning of materials must comply with Chapter 109, Environmental Control, of this Code.
Any person placing or throwing in any street,
highway or alley any dead cat, dog, chicken, rat or other animal,
tainted meat, decayed fruits or vegetables, filthy fluids or water,
human or other excrement or anything of like nature shall be deemed
guilty of causing a public nuisance.
[Added by Bill No. 03-58]
A.
No person shall deposit yard trim, which shall consist
of organic vegetative material and shall include, but not be limited
to, grass clippings, brush, weeds, tree limbs or branches less than
5 inches in diameter, anywhere in Harford County other than at the
Tollgate Road Yard Trim Facility, the compost facility at the Harford
Waste Disposal Center or any other County owned, operated or approved
facility other than during posted hours of operation.
B.
No person shall deposit any items for disposal at
any County yard trim or compost facility other than residential yard
trim. Unacceptable items include, but are not limited to, residential
refuse and garbage, white goods, furniture, tires, mattresses, toilets,
stone, rocks, dead animals, construction and demolition debris, lumber,
stumps or any section of a tree greater than 6 inches in diameter.
In addition, yard trim generated from commercial activities will only
be accepted at the compost facility at the Harford Waste Disposal
Center.
C.
Nothing contained in Section 179-7 shall prohibit a property owner from disposing of yard trim on the owner's property.
D.
Anyone found violating this section shall be deemed
guilty of creating a public nuisance detrimental to the health of
County citizens. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to punishment by a
fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months or
both in the discretion of the court.
