Chapter 7-06
BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS
SECTIONS:
7-06-001-0001 SHORT TITLE
7-06-001-0002 PURPOSE
7-06-001-0003 INTENT
7-06-001-0004 DEFINITIONS
7-06-001-0005 BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS
7-06-001-0006 EXEMPTIONS
7-06-001-0007 PENALTY
7-06-001-0001 SHORT TITLE
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Building and Property Care Standards of the City of Flagstaff.” While these standards apply to buildings, structures, and property, they shall be referred as the “PCS.” (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0002 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Building and Property Care Standards (PCS) is to improve and maintain the appearance of the City of Flagstaff and improve quality of life by protecting public health, safety, and welfare. These standards establish minimum exterior maintenance standards for all residential and nonresidential buildings and properties in the City to protect against hazardous, deteriorating, and other dangerous conditions. (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0003 INTENT
These standards shall be applied and enforced fairly and consistently. The City shall provide adequate notice to affected property owners to resolve conditions and the City may provide resources to assist property owners with compliance as they are available. It is the intent of the City to work with property owners and tenants to preserve existing buildings and housing. (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0004 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number.
ABANDONMENT: To cease from maintaining or using.
ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE: A condition or thing that might attract a person onto land thereby causing a risk to their safety.
DEBRIS: The remains of something broken down or destroyed.
DETERIORATION: The action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, function, or condition.
CONTAINERS: Receptacles (bins, carts, etc.) used to hold solid waste or recyclables for residential and commercial solid waste and recycling collection.
GARBAGE: Food waste; discarded or useless material.
HAZARD: A source of danger or risk.
INOPERABLE: Not able to be operated.
LITTER: Trash, wastepaper, debris, or garbage lying scattered about. An untidy accumulation of objects.
TRASH: Things that are no longer useful or wanted and have been thrown away; something in a deteriorated or broken condition. (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0005 BUILDING AND PROPERTY CARE STANDARDS
Every person who owns or leases any land, building, or structure within Flagstaff shall keep and maintain the land or building in a manner consistent with these standards.
A. Property Standards. The purpose of these standards is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by eliminating litter, debris, inoperable equipment, hazards, and attractive nuisances:
1. Property owners shall provide container capacity adequate to meet the garbage and recycling removal needs of the property to prevent the accumulation of uncontained litter and debris. Containers shall be maintained in good working condition to allow for proper closure to prevent blowing trash and access by animals.
2. Properties shall be kept free from the accumulation of litter, trash, debris, or garbage.
3. Inoperable equipment, vehicles, and appliances shall not be stored on a property where it is visible from the public right-of-way or accessible to members of the public.
4. Properties shall remain free from hazards including but not limited to damaged or dead trees or vegetation, unsecured, exposed, or inoperable private utility infrastructure, or walls and fencing that are structurally unsound.
5. Unoccupied properties shall be posted “No Trespassing” and adequately secured to prevent unauthorized use of the property.
B. Buildings and Structures Standards. The purpose of these standards is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by preventing the abandonment and deterioration of buildings and structures, and eliminating attractive nuisances:
1. Windows and doors shall be maintained in proper working condition. Where damaged windows or doors require repair or replacement, temporary security measures may be installed for no more than thirty (30) days.
2. All buildings and structures shall be maintained to prevent deterioration and the appearance of abandonment that threatens the buildings’ longevity. This includes but is not limited to general building maintenance such as repairs of windows, doors, roofs, and exterior structural elements.
3. Unoccupied buildings shall be posted “No Trespassing” and adequately secured to prevent unauthorized use of the property.
(Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0006 EXEMPTIONS
It shall be the sole discretion of the City of Flagstaff to suspend enforcement of these standards due to circumstances beyond the control of the property owner, such as community events, natural disasters, fires, flooding, and managing through recovery. (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)
7-06-001-0007 PENALTY
It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with the requirements of this chapter. A person who knowingly fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with the requirements of this chapter will be subject to a civil violation and if found responsible for the civil violation shall be imposed a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00). The imposition of any fine shall not exempt the offender from compliance with the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2023-31, Enacted, 12/19/2023)