Chapter 50 – Nuisance Abatement Procedure

endanger or obstruct aerial navigation including take-off and landing, unless such object or structure constitutes a proper use or enjoyment of the land on which the same is located. 12. Houses of Ill Fame. Houses of ill fame, kept for the purpose of prostitution and lewdness; gambling houses; places resorted to by persons participating in criminal gang activity prohibited by Chapter 723A of the Code of Iowa or places resorted to by persons using controlled substances, as defined in Section 124.101 of the Code of Iowa, in violation of law, or houses where drunkenness, quarreling, fighting or breaches of the peace are carried on or permitted to the disturbance of others. 50.03 OTHER CONDITIONS. The following chapters of this Code of Ordinances contain regulations prohibiting or restricting other conditions which are deemed to be nuisances: 1. Junk and Junk Vehicles (See Chapter 51) 2. Dangerous Buildings (See Chapter 145) 3. Storage and Disposal of Solid Waste (See Chapter 105) 4. Trees (See Chapter 151) 5. Construction and Repair of Buildings (See Chapter 155) 50.04 NUISANCES PROHIBITED. The creation or maintenance of a nuisance is prohibited, and a nuisance, public or private, may be abated in the manner provided for in this chapter or State law. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 657.3) 50.05 NUISANCE ABATEMENT. Whenever any authorized municipal officer finds that a nuisance exists, such officer has the authority to determine on a case-by-case basis whether to utilize the nuisance abatement procedure described in Section 50.06 of this chapter or the municipal infraction procedure referred to in Section 50.07. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3h]) 50.06 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE BY WRITTEN NOTICE. Any nuisance, public or private, may be abated in the manner provided for in this section: (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3h]) 1. Contents of Notice to Property Owner. The notice to abate shall contain: † A. Description of Nuisance. A description of what constitutes the nuisance. B. Location of Nuisance. The location of the nuisance. C. Acts Necessary to Abate. A statement of the act or acts necessary to abate the nuisance. D. Reasonable Time. A reasonable time within which to complete the abatement. E. Assessment of City Costs. A statement that if the nuisance or condition is not abated as directed and no request for hearing is made within the time prescribed, the City will abate it and assess the costs against the property owner. † EDITOR’S NOTE: A suggested form of notice for the abatement of nuisances is included in the Appendix of this Code of Ordinances. Caution is urged in the use of this administrative abatement procedure, particularly where cost of abatement is more than minimal or where there is doubt as to whether or not a nuisance does in fact exist. If compliance is not secured following notice and hearings, we recommend you review the situation with your attorney before proceeding with abatement and assessment of costs. Your attorney may recommend proceedings in court under Chapter 657 of the Code of Iowa rather than this procedure.