ORDINANCE
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOWIE, MARYLAND,
AMENDING CHAPTER 5, "BUILDING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE", ARTICLE II,
"PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE", SECTION 5-7, "STANDARDS", TO
ADD IN SUBSECTION (B)(2) THE TERM "LITTER" TO THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT
MAY NOT ACCUMULATE ON THE EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS OF ANY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
AND TO ADD IN SUBSECTION (B)(3) THE PHRASE, "GUTTERS, DOWNSPOUTS, SUMP
PUMPS", TO THE SOURCES OF WATER THAT MUST BE RPEVENTED FROM FLOWING ACROSS
NEIGHBORING PROPERTY.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 23A of the Annotated
Code of Maryland, the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland (the "City
Council") has the authority to pass such ordinances as it deems necessary
to preserve peace and good order, to secure persons from danger and destruction
and to protect the health, comfort and convenience of the citizens of the municipality;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 23A, § 2, the City Council has the authority
to enact reasonable regulations concerning buildings, including a building code;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to this authority, the City of Bowie has established and presently
enforces certain property maintenance standards, which standards are codified
in Chapter 5,"Building and Property Maintenance", Article II, "Property
Maintenance Code," of the City Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it to be in the public interest to undertake
certain revisions to the property maintenance standards as to exterior conditions
of structures in the City with respect to outdoor storage and water flow across
neighboring properties.
Section 1. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED, by the Council of the
City of Bowie, Maryland that Chapter 5,"Building and Property Maintenance",
Article II, "Property Maintenance Code," of the City Code be and is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5-7. Standards.
* * *
(b) EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS. The exterior property areas of any residential
or commercial structure, whether occupied or unoccupied, shall comply with the
following requirements:
* * *
2. Sanitation. All exterior property areas shall be maintained in a clean and
sanitary condition, free from any accumulation of LITTER, rubbish, refuse, trash
or garbage, including but not limited to paper, boxes, cans, bottles, tires,
construction materials, trimmings from lawns, hedges, shrubs or trees, fuel
oil, lubricating oil, gravel, broken stone, mortar, and unused accumulations
of mulch, hay, straw, manure, shavings, sawdust, coal, or ashes. This section
shall not be applicable to properly maintained compost piles.
3. Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained so as to
prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon or within any building or
structure located thereon. Water in swimming pools, wading pools, and fish ponds
shall not be allowed to stagnate and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition at all times. Water from GUTTERS, DOWNSPOUTS, SUMP PUMPS, swimming
pools, wading pools and fish ponds shall not be drained in such a manner as
to flow on neighboring property or to cause erosion.
* * *
Section 2. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance shall become effective
thirty (30) days after its enactment by the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland
provided that a fair summary of this Ordinance is published at least once prior
to the date of passage and at least once within ten (10) days after the date
of passage in a newspaper having general circulation in the City.
INTRODUCED by the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland at a regular meeting
on the _____ day of _________________, 2002.
PASSED by the Council of the City of Bowie, Maryland at a regular meeting on
the _____ day of ___________________, 2002.
ATTEST: THE CITY OF BOWIE, MARYLAND
By:
Pamela A. Fleming, City Clerk
G. Frederick Robinson, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND SUFFICIENCY:
______________________________
Robert H. Levan, City Attorney