17.80.070 Maintenance standards for undeveloped/vacant property.
A. Mandatory Standards. All vacant real property in the city shall be secured and maintained at a level not less than the following standards during the time period that such property remains vacant real property:
1. Graffiti. All structures, equipment, walls, and fencing on the property shall be maintained free of graffiti.
2. Weeds/Trash. All ground areas shall be maintained free of weeds and trash.
B. Additional Standards. When deemed necessary by the responsible official in order to maintain the safety of persons or property, the following standards may also be imposed:
1. Access Points. All windows, doors, and other open access features to the structures on the real property shall be boarded up and secured according to the following standards (alternate materials may be used if approved by responsible official):
a. Any missing or broken windows or doors shall be covered as specified. Complete boarding of all unbroken windows shall only be required when specified by the code enforcement officer;
b. Exterior door openings may be secured against entry by locking or using #10 minimum flathead wood screws penetrating a minimum of three-fourths inch into framing members, only if doors do not contain glazing panes;
c. All wood used to cover openings shall be new or comparable (to be approved by code officer), exterior grade one-half-inch nominal thickness plywood or O.S.B. board. Only one piece of plywood or O.S.B. board shall be used per opening unless the opening requires more than one four-foot by eight-foot sheet in which case, splices shall have two-inch by four-inch backing the complete length of the splice. Plywood or O.S.B. board shall extend two inches minimum beyond opening on all sides and shall be secured by #10 minimum flathead wood screws. Screws shall be spaced twelve inches on center around complete opening and shall penetrate framing members a minimum of three-fourths inch;
d. Where applicable, plywood or O.S.B. board shall extend flush to top of door threshold and protruding windowsills;
e. All variations from above requirements shall be approved by code officer;
f. Contractor shall first confer with officer prior to submitting bid for special board-up conditions such as apartment buildings, motels, or commercial buildings;
g. All boards visible from the building’s exterior shall be painted to match the building’s exterior;
h. Refill holes, which are more than one foot in depth.
2. A building shall be permitted to be boarded up for no longer than six months. If a demo permit or building permit are not issued within six months, the city shall initiate abatement proceedings.
3. Fencing. The property shall be temporarily fenced on all sides along the property line with a chain link fence or other type of secure fencing at a minimum height of six feet from grade, or greater, as determined by the fire chief or building official. The fence shall be properly posted with no trespassing signs, and kept clear of all other signs, except lawfully installed real estate signs for the lease or sale of the property and signs identifying ownership of the property or fencing.
4. Security Lighting. All structures which could be used for human habitation shall have a minimum of one light each in the front and rear yards. Such lighting shall be capable of illuminating the structure’s exterior so as to be visible from the street or alley from dusk to dawn. However, the lights shall be shielded to avoid lighting adjacent properties. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).