Ordinance 1979-16
ORDINANCE NO. 79-16
SECTION 1. WEEDS, BRUSH, ETC., OVER EIGHTEEN tNCHES HIGH.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, claiming,
occupying or having supervision or control of any real
platted property occupied, within the corporate limits of
the City, to permit weeds, brush or any objectionable or
unsightly matter to grow to a greater height than eighteen
(18) inches upon any such platted real property within one
hundred (100) feet of any property line. This ordinance
does not apply to street or thoroughfare R.O.W. All
vegetation, not regularly cultivated (and excluding farmer's
crops and rancher's grass or forage) which exceeds eighteen
(18) inches in height, shall be presumed to be objectionable
and unsightly matter.
SECTION 2. DUTY OF PROPERTY OWNER TO CUT AND REMOVE WEEDS,
BRUSH, AND UNSIGHTLY MA~TER. It shall be the duty of any
person owning, claiming, occupying or having supervision or
control of any such real property, as provided for herein,
to cut and remove all such weeds, brush and other
objectionable or unsightly matter as often as may be
necessary to comply with the next preceding section;
provided, that the removing and cutting same at least once
every thirty (30) days shall be deemed a compliance with
this ordinance.
SECTION 3. DUTY OF PROPERTY OWNER TO REMOVE STAGNANT WATER,
RUBBISH, TRASH, CARRION OR OTHER IMPURE OR UNWHOLESOME
MATTER. It shall be the duty of any person owning,
claiming, occupying or having supervision or control of any
real property, occupied or unoccupied, within the corporate
limits of the City, to keep such property free from stagnant
water, rubbish, trash, filth, carrion or other impure or
unwholesome matter of any kind, and to keep the sidewalks in
front of this property free and clear of the same, and to
fill up, drain or regrade any lots, ground or yards which
shall be unwholesome or have stagnant water therein, and to
cleanse and disinfect any house, building, establishment,
lot, yard, or ground from rubbish, trash, filth, carrion or
other impure or unwholesome matter of any kind.
"Rubbish", as that term is used in the
include but not be limited to the
properties after any building or other
properties have been:
ordinance, shall
debris left upon
structures on such
a. Destroyed by fire or other
not restored to its original or
removed from the property within
of such destruction;
calamity and the same
better condition or
90 days from the date
b. Intentionally wrecked or demolished by the owner;
c. Moved from such property to another location;
d. Vacated by a prior owner or tenant.
SECTION 4. NOTICE TO OWNER TO REMOVE, ETC.; REMOVAL BY CITY
UPON FAILURE OF OWNER TO DO SO. In the event that any
person owning, claiming, occupying or having supervision or
control of any real property occupied or unoccupied within
the corporate limits of the City fails to comply with the
provisions of Sections 1, 2 and 3, it shall be the duty of
the Building Inspector's Office to give ten (10) days notice
in writing to such person violating the terms of this
ordinance, or by letter, certified, return receipt requested
addressed to such person at his last known address.
If such letter is undeliverable and the whereabouts of the
owner cannot be determined, the notice will be published at
least two times within ten consecutive days in the City's
official newspaper. If such person fails or refuses to
comply with the provisions of Sections l, 2 and 3, within
ten (10) days after date of notification in writing or by
letter, or date of second publication of notice in the
City's official newspaper, the City may go upon such
property and do or cause to be done the work necessary, the
City may go upon such property and do or cause to be done
the work necessary to obtain compliance with this ordinance,
and may charge the expenses incurred in doing or in having
same done, to the owners of such property as provided
hereafter in compliance with Article 4436, Revised Civil
Statutes of Texas, as amended.
In the event that unusual circumstances occur which, in the
best judgement of the code enforcement officer, cause a
clear and eminent danger to public health, safety or welfare
to exist the requirement for written notification shall not
apply and correctional action shall be performed at once
upon oral demand of the code enforcement officer or his duly
appointed representative. (amendment 85-59, 9-10-85)
SECTION 5. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REMOVAL NOTICE. Any
person violating the provisions of this ordinance, who
continues to be in violation of the same after notice is
given as set forth in Section 4, above, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined
not to exceed the sum of $200.00 for each offense. Each and
every day such offense is continued shall constitute a
separate offense. This section shall be in addition to and
cumulative of the provisions for the abatement of the said
nuisance and charging the cost of same against the owner of
the premises by the City.
SECTION 6. CHARGE TO BE LEVIED AND COLLECTED IF WORK DONE
BY CITY. The expense incurred by the City of Wylie,
pursuant to the correcting of conditions as set forth in
this ordinance, shall be charged to and become a lien on the
platted real estate or lot or lots upon which such expense
is incurred. Such charges to be levied shall be as follows:
a. A charge of $37.50 plus the City's cost per hour of
mowing on per lot basis for each cutting of said weeds
and brush shall be levied, assessed and collected
against such property each time such cutting of said
weeds shall be performed where the area does not exceed
44,000 square feet. On tracts and lots of land that
exceed 44,000 square feet, an additional charge of
$37.50 shall be levied, assessed and collected for each
additional 44,000 square feet or the major portion
thereof. In the event that there are obstructions such
as rocks, trees, shrubs, bushes, excavations,
foundations of demolished structures or other
impediments, an additional charge can be levied,
assessed and collected from such premises for the
actual cost resulting from the additional expenses
incurred therefrom;
b. In the event that it becomes necessary for the City
of Wylie, Texas to go upon property and do or cause to
be done the work necessary to seek compliance with
Section 3, above, the actual expenses incurred shall be
charged, levied, assessed and collected against such
property.
SECTION 7. CHARGES TO BECOME A LIEN TO BE LEVIED AND
COLLECTED BY THE CITY TAX ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR. The
charges provided for in this ordinance shall be levied,
assessed and collected by the Tax Assessor & Collector of
the City of Wylie, Texas. In the event the owner of said
premises upon which work was done and charges incurred fails
or refuses to pay such charges and expenses within thirty
(30) days after the first day of the month following the one
in which the work was done, the Tax Assessor & Collector
shall file with the County Clerk of Collin County a
statement by the Mayor of the City setting out the expenses
that the City has incurred pursuant to the provisions of
this ordinance, and the City of Wylie shall thereby perfect
a privileged lien on the property involved, second only to
tax liens and liens for street improvements, to secure the
expenses incurred, together wi th ten percent (10%) interest
from the date such payment was due. For any such
expenditures and interest, as aforesaid, suit may be
instituted and foreclosure had in the name of the City of
Wylie; and the Statement so made, as aforesaid, or a
certified copy thereof, shall be prima facie proof of the
amount expended for any such work or improvements.
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