Sec. 58-1. Health hazards.
(a) It shall be a violation of this section for the owner of any property in the unincorporated portion of the parish to allow to exist on such property any old, dilapidated tires, inoperable vehicles,
and/or any parts thereof, or any other abandoned, dumped or deposited manmade devices left as refuse, trash or garbage which constitute a threat to the public health, safety or welfare.
(b) As a nonexclusive illustration, the abandoned devices left as refuse, trash or garbage as contemplated in subsection (a) of this section are tires, inoperable vehicles, or parts thereof, or any other devices which have been left in such a condition whereby they could be reasonably expected to collect water; cause weed growth or provide breeding places for mosquitoes, snakes, rodents or other vermin.
(c) Before a property owner is subject to any penalties under this section, he shall be notified in writing of the particular health hazard that exists on his property which is in violation of this section, and he shall be given ten days to correct the condition without a penalty. The police jury may extend such time for good cause upon the written request of the property owner. Such request shall specify the reasons for which the extension is requested. If the police jury approves an extension, the property owner shall be notified in writing and advised in such notice of the new removal deadline.
(d) Failure by the property owner to remove the specified health hazard by the appropriate deadline is a violation of this section which shall be punishable as provided in Section 1-13.
(Code 1975, §10:300)
Sec. 58-2. Maintenance of property in subdivisions.
(a) It is the desire of the police jury to ensure that private properties, whether vacant or improved, located in approved subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of the parish
do not constitute a hazard to the health of the citizens of the parish.
(b) The owner of any lot, place, area or other property, whether vacant or with structures located thereon, within the limits of any approved subdivision in the unincorporated area of the parish shall cut and destroy all obnoxious weeds, grass or deleterious or unhealthful growth, or other obnoxious matter growing, lying or being in or upon any lot, place or area or other property within the subdivision, and remove such weeds, grass or matter from the premises.
(c) Such cutting and removal shall be done as often as necessary in order to ensure that such lots, places or areas do not constitute a hazard to the health of the citizens of the parish.
(Code 1975, § 9:3(a)-(c))
Cross reference-Subdivisions,
Ch. 110.
Sec. 58-3. Remedies.
(a) If any owner of any lot, place, area or other property, whether vacant or with structures located thereon, within the limits of a subdivision in the unincorporated area of the parish fails to cut, destroy
and remove obnoxious weeds, grass or other unhealthy growth or obnoxious matter in the manner required in this chapter, after giving proper notice, the parish shall charge the owner the actual charge, cost or expense for the cutting, destruction or
removal of such weeds, grass or other deleterious, unhealthful or obnoxious matter, plus a penalty of $50.00 per trip. Such penalty shall be in addition to the actual charge, cost or expense to the police jury in bringing the property into compliance
with this chapter.
(b) No such work shall be undertaken by the parish until the owner of the lot, place, area or other property where the weeds, grass or other obnoxious matter are to be removed as shown on the last assessment roll of the parish has had an opportunity to do the work himself within 15 days after receipt of a registered or certified letter from the police jury addressed in accordance with the tax rolls of the parish.
(c) After the cutting, destruction or removal of weeds, grass or other obnoxious matter by the parish after due notice, if the cost or expense due the police jury together with the $50.00 penalty, has not been paid within ten days, the parish shall furnish the owner, as shown on the last assessment role of the parish, by registered or certified mail, a written statement showing the cost or expense incurred by the work, together with the penalty assessed, and the place or property on which the work was done.
(d) If a statement is not paid within one month thereafter, the police jury may file with the recorder of mortgages, a certified copy of the charges, and when such copy is filed and recorded, it shall operate as a lien and privilege in favor of the parish
against the property on which such weeds, grass or other obnoxious matter were cut or removed. The lien and privilege granted under this subsection, when recorded within 60 days from the date of completion of the cutting or removal, shall have the
same ranking as an ad valorem tax lien on immovable property as provided in R.S. 9:4821 (1). The charges, as enumerated in this section, shall be added to the annual ad valorem tax bill of the property involved if the charges remain unpaid. The ad
valorem tax lien imposed by such statute, and such rights attendant thereto, shall coexist with those granted under this subsection.
(Code 1975, § 9:3; Ord. No. 3651, 9-1-1999)
State law reference-Similar provisions, R.S. 33:1236(21).