Spring is here, and so is mowing season. The City of Galion reminds all residents to keep their lawns maintained.
Chapter 559.01 of the City Codified Ordinances outlines the requirements for the cutting of weeds and grass. Owners of parcels within the city limits that are three acres or less must keep weeds and grass cut and trimmed, including areas in the public right of way. “No owner shall permit weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation to grow or be upon such lots or lands at a height exceeding eight inches above the ground.”
Property owners who fail to comply will be notified of the violation in writing and given five days to correct the issue. After that period if the violation still exists, the owner will be charged with a minor misdemeanor. Each day the violation continues shall be a separate offense.
To report a lawn maintenance violation, please call the Building and Zoning Department at 419-468-2642.
When a property is non-compliant, the city pays for the lawn to be maintained and charges the property owner. There is also a penalty assessed equal to 25 percent of the costs and expenses incurred by the city.
Any qualified individual or business who would like to place a bid on mowing nuisance properties may submit bids to the City Building, 301 Harding Way East, by April 18 at 11 a.m.
559.01 CUTTING OF WEEDS AND GRASS REQUIRED.
(a) It is hereby determined that all weeds, grasses, and other types of vegetation growing or being upon lots or lands within the City as hereinafter described in subsection (b) at a height exceeding eight inches above the ground are a nuisance.
(b) No owner, lessee, agent, or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of lots or lands of three acres or less within the City shall permit weeds, grasses or other types of vegetation to grow or be upon such lots or lands at a height exceeding eight inches above the ground.
(c) No owner, lessee, agent, or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of lots or lands exceeding three acres within the City shall permit weeds, grasses, or other types of vegetation to grow or be upon the portion of such lots or lands which lies within twenty feet of a lot line adjacent to lots or lands upon which a residential or commercial building exists or lies within 100 feet of a public thoroughfare at a height of eight inches above the ground.
Provided, however, the prohibition contained in this subsection shall not apply to any parcels of land exceeding five acres that are currently used or have been used within the last three years for agricultural purposes. As used in this section, the term “agricultural purposes” means farming; ranching; aquaculture; apiculture; horticulture; viticulture; animal husbandry, including, but not limited to, the care and raising of livestock, equine, and fur-bearing animals; poultry husbandry and the production of poultry and poultry products; dairy production; the production of field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees, flowers, sod, or mushrooms; timber; pasturage; any combination of the foregoing; the processing, drying, storage, and marketing of agricultural products when those activities are conducted in conjunction with, but are secondary to, such husbandry or production.
(d) Between March 1 and April 30 of each year, a Notice shall be published by the City in a newspaper of general circulation within the City generally describing the requirements of its citizens and landowners to cut weeds and grass.
559.02 NOTICE TO CUT WEEDS AND GRASS.
(a) Upon receipt of information that weeds, grass, or other vegetation has not been cut as required by Section 559.01, the Mayor or his designee shall issue a written Notice of Violation to the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of such lots, lands or premises. Such Notice shall state that the weeds, grass and other vegetation on the premises exceed eight inches in height, and that such weeds, grass or other vegetation must be cut and destroyed within five days after service of the Notice. This Notice shall be served by delivering it personally to such person or by sending it by certified mail, return receipt requested, to such person addressed to his or her usual place of residence or to the address listed in the Crawford County tax records. If such Notice is sent by certified mail, and such service has been refused or is unclaimed by the addressee, said Notice may then be served by sending it by regular U.S. Mail. If the address of the owner, lessee, agent or tenant having charge of, or responsibility for, the maintenance of such lots, lands or premises is unknown, it is sufficient to publish the Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City.
(b) Every Notice to cut weeds, grass or other types of vegetation shall state that if the Notice is not complied with within the time limit provided therein, in addition to the penalty provided in Section 559.99, any and all costs incurred by the City in cutting and destroying such growth shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and shall be a lien upon such lands.
(c) When a written Notice of Violation has been issued in accordance with the provisions of this section, such Notice shall constitute adequate and effective notice for all enforcement purpose under this chapter with respect to continuing or repeat violations of Section 559.01 for a period of one year following the date such initial Notice was served.
559.99 PENALTY.
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day during which said violation occurs or continues shall be a separate offense.