Title 900

CITY OF SPRING GROVE
TITLE 900
ENVIRONMENTAL
CHAPTER 902 – Junk Vehicles
SECTION 1 – For the purpose of
this Chapter a vehicle is defined as:
every device in, upon, or by which
any person or property is or may
be transported or drawn upon a
highway, excepting devices used
exclusively upon stationary rails or
tracks.
SECTION 2 - JUNKED, ABANDONED VEHICLES DEFINED; Vehicles partially dismantled, inoperative, wrecked or junked, or which
have been unlicensed or display
expired registration, except if kept
in an enclosed accessory building,
are deemed junked or abandoned
motor vehicle for purposes of this
City Code, and are hereby declared
a public nuisance.
SECTION 3 - PERSONS RESPONSIBLE; It shall be a violation
of this City Code for any person,
firm or corporation, owning, leasing or otherwise in control of any
real property in the City of Spring
Grove, to permit or allow junked or
abandoned vehicles as hereinbefore defined at any location in the
City of Spring Grove. If the responsible person is a corporation, any
officer or agent of such corporation
shall be subject to prosecution under the terms and provisions of this
City Code.
SECTION 4 – EXCEPTIONS;
A Vehicle that would otherwise be
considered a junked or abandoned
vehicle under this ordinance shall
not be in violation of this City Code
if the Vehicle meets the definition of
Lawn Art. To be considered Lawn
Art, the Vehicle shall:
1. Be 45 years or older.
2. Be placed on a concrete or
gravel parking pad or on top of any
other weed barrier that prohibits
plant growth underneath and immediately around the Vehicle.
3. Be maintained and cared for
in a manner that makes the Vehicle
visually appealing or charming to
the average passerby.
4. Not have significant body
damage beyond the customary
wear and tear for the vehicle’s age.
5. Not harbor wild animals,
pests, vermin, noxious insects, or
noxious weeds.
6. Not be within the public rightof-way or positioned in a manner to
be a visual obstruction the view or
flow of traffic.
7. Include at least one of the following characteristics:
a. Perennial flowers or shrubs
on or immediately surrounding the
Vehicle.
b. Annual flower displays on or
immediately surrounding the Vehicle.
c. Seasonal displays on or immediately surrounding the Vehicle
(i.e., flowers during the summer,
pumpkins or cornstalks during the
fall, garland in the winter); or
d. Rock garden or retaining wall
landscaping around the Vehicle.
8. Be licensed by the City after
application by the property owner
or owners and submission of the
required fee. For the remainder of
2021, the initial license fee shall
be $100.00. Thereafter, the initial
license fee and annual fees shall be
as set in the City fee schedule. Prior to issuance of any such license,
an official from the City shall review
the application and, if applicable,
visit the site or inspect the Vehicle
to verify the Vehicle meets or will
meet all requirements of this ordinance. Any installation or proposed
installation not meeting the requirements of this ordinance shall not
receive a license or shall have their
license revoked. Revocation of a
license shall occur after written notice is issued to the property owner
citing the observed violations and
providing the property owner two
weeks from the mailing of the notice to correct the violations. Failure of the property owner to make
the proper corrections shall permit
City officials to revoke the license
and provide the property owner
written notice of such revocation.
Upon termination or revocation of
a license, the property owner shall
have thirty days to have the Vehicle removed. Licenses issued shall
be valid for one year, from January
1 through December 31 and shall
require annual renewal. Annual inspections will be at or around July
1 of the current year.
A property is not allowed more
than one Vehicle under this exception. This exception shall not be
interpreted to permit farm tractors
or implements.
SECTION 5 – PENALTY. Any
person who violates a provision
of this Chapter shall be deemed
to have committed a misdemeanor and shall be charged pursuant
to Title 1900 of the Code of Ordinances.
Published in
The Caledonia Argus
May 8, 2024
1391933