§ 34.08. Exterior property areas on residential properties.

The owner of any premises or structure regulated by this section, as specified in section 34.03, shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)

..... Sanitation. All exterior property areas shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition, free from any accumulation of garbage, mixed municipal solid waste, animal feces or refuse.

(2)

Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained so as to drain water away from structures and minimize the accumulation of water on such premises.

(3)

Ground cover. Every residential premises shall be maintained in a condition to control erosion, dust and mud by suitable landscaping with grass, trees, shrubs or other planted ground cover, or by suitable paving or by other means as shall be approved by the enforcement officer.

(4)

Insect and rodent infestations. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to control and/or eliminate any infestation of insects, rodents or other pests in all exterior areas and accessory structures on the premises.

(5)

Accessory structures. All accessory structures including, but not limited to, detached garages, sheds and fences, shall be kept in a professional state of maintenance and repair and maintained structurally sound. All exterior wood surfaces, other than decay-resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and decay by paint which is not lead-based paint or by other protective covering or treatment. Service doors to accessory structures shall be provided with securing locks.

(6)

Stored materials. It shall be unlawful to accumulate and store building material, lumber, boxes, cartons, portable storage containers, inter modal cargo containers or other containers, machinery, scrap metal, junk, raw material, or fabricated goods.

(7)

Parked or stored vehicles. All existing parking spaces shall consist of asphalt, concrete, gravel, rock, or other durable and dustless surfaces. Existing parking surfaces must be maintained in a professional state of repair and may be maintained with like materials without additional approval from the city. Existing parking surfaces must be contained to eliminate migration onto other adjacent surfaces and must be clearly delineated. In all residential districts, off street parking shall not be located within any front yard or non-interior side yard. Before any existing parking spaces or driveways may be expanded upon, site plan approval must be obtained as specified in the Saint Paul Zoning Code and the lot must be developed in conformance with such approval.

(8)

Refrigerators and accessible containers. It shall be unlawful to permit a refrigerator or other container, sufficiently large to retain a child and with doors which fasten automatically when closed, to be exposed and accessible to children without removing the doors, lids, hinges or latches.

(9)

Exterior lighting. Exterior lighting at garages and surface parking areas of buildings containing three (3) or more dwelling units shall be illuminated to a level to allow safe, secure access to the parking facility and within it. Exterior lighting shall be in conformance with city ordinances and codes.

(10)

Exterior sidewalks, walkways and stairs. All sidewalks, walkways and exterior stairs shall be maintained in a professional state of maintenance and repair, free of defects and hazards.

(11)

Outdoor swimming pools. All outdoor swimming pools, in use or temporarily out of use, shall be maintained and secured as defined in section 34.08(12).

a.

Out-of-service outdoor swimming pool. Any outdoor swimming pool not in use for more than one (1) year shall be free of stagnant water, free of debris, and secured as defined in section 34.08(12).

b.

Nuisance outdoor swimming pool. Any outdoor swimming pool that has stagnant water, lacks maintenance such as damaged sides, broken ladders, missing or damaged equipment, or is out of service for two (2) years, and/or is not secured as defined in section 34.08(12) is subject to abatement under chapter 45 of the St. Paul Municipal Code.

(12)

Outdoor swimming pool fencing.

a.

All yards of one- and two-family structures containing outdoor swimming pools shall be enclosed by an obscuring fence or wall not less than four (4) feet in height, maintained in a professional state of maintenance or repair, and shall be constructed such that no openings, holes or gaps in the fence or wall exceed four (4) inches in any dimension except for openings protected by a door or gate. All yards of residential structures of three (3) or more units and commercial structures containing outdoor swimming pools shall be enclosed by an obscuring fence not less than five (5) feet in height, maintained in a professional state of maintenance or repair, and shall be constructed such that no openings, holes or gaps in the fence or wall exceed four (4) inches in any dimension except for openings protected by a door or gate. Sidewalls greater than four (4) or five (5) feet in height on an above ground outdoor swimming pool are not a substitute for the appropriate fence or wall. The gates shall be of a self-closing and self-latching type, with the latch on the inside of the gate, not readily available for children to open. Gates shall be capable of being securely locked when the outdoor swimming pool is not in use.

(C.F. No. 05-740, § 1, 9-14-05; C.F. No. 09-137, § 1, 2-25-09; Ord 15-49, § 1, 10-14-15; Ord 16-58, § 1, 1-4-17)