What Is a Nuisance?

There are many kinds of nuisances. Some are more serious than others; some require more urgent attention than others. The Municipal Code lists these, among others:

  • Party houses
  • A condition that causes visual blight, is offensive to the senses, creates a harborage for rodents or pests, or detrimentally affects property in the surrounding neighborhood or community.
  • A condition that impairs the reasonable and lawful use of property.
  • A condition that unreasonably or unlawfully affects the health or safety of one or more persons.
  • A fire hazard as defined in the Uniform Fire Code.
  • Emanation of noxious or unreasonable odors, fumes, gas, smoke, soot or cinders.
  • Noxious weeds located on property, including vacant lots, or along public sidewalks or outer edge of any public street, or weeds in any other location which constitutes an unreasonable fire hazard or is contrary to the purpose of this chapter.
  • Keeping or storing of any refuse and waste matter which interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of nearby property.
  • Polluted or stagnant water which constitutes an unhealthy or unsafe condition.
  • Accumulation of soil, litter, debris, plant trimmings, or trash, on sidewalks, in vestibules, doorways, passages, breezeways, parking areas or any public right-of-way or alley.
  • Accumulation of used or damaged lumber; junk; salvage materials; abandoned, discarded or unused furniture; stoves, sinks, toilets, cabinets, or other fixtures or equipment stored so as to be visible from a public street, alley, or adjoining property.
  • Any attractive nuisance dangerous to children and other persons.
  • Dead, decayed, diseased, or hazardous trees, weeds, hedges, and overgrown or uncultivated vegetation which is in a hazardous condition, is an obstruction to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or which is likely to harbor rats, vermin or other pests.
  • Improper storage of inoperative, unregistered, abandoned, wrecked or dismantled vehicles or vehicle parts, including recreational vehicles.

Show All Answers

1. Who Is on the Committee?
2. What If I Want to Join the Committee?
3. What Is a Nuisance?
4. Where Can I Find the City’s Nuisance Laws?
5. How Do I Report a Nuisance?
6. What Happens When Nuisance is Reported?
7. Can't I Do Whatever I Want on My Property?
8. Does Nuisance Enforcement Really Reduce Crime in the City?
9. What If I Have More Questions or Want to Help?