§ 00053-11. Fowl, animals and vermin.

(A)

No live geese, hens, chickens, pigeons, ducks, hogs, goats, cows, mules, horses, dogs, cats, other fowl or any other domestic or non-domestic animals shall be kept in the city so as to create a nuisance, foul odors, or be a menace to the health of occupants or neighboring individuals.

(B)

Portions of the floor, ground, or roosts where manure or urine regularly fall, in any structure, enclosure, pen, or run in which fowl or animals are kept, shall be clean and free from odors. All possible means shall be employed to prevent the breeding of flies.

(C)

Manure shall be removed at least once each day and placed in fly tight, leak-proof, covered containers. Such containers shall be kept clean and shall be disinfected after each emptying.

(D)

It shall be unlawful for an owner, agent or person in control to permit any premises, building or part thereof to harbor an infestation of mice, rats, fleas, roaches, or other disease causing vectors. All structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation. All structures in which insects or rodents are found shall be treated by a process that will not be injurious to human health. After treatment, proper precautions shall be taken to minimize reinfestation.

(E)

The owner of residential housing unit(s) must utilize an integrated pest management practice that includes identification of pests and conditions that attract pests; prevention techniques such as sanitation, vacuuming, structural repair and sealing; monitoring; education and training; and pre-notification of chemical use. A commercial pest control applicator's license issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture is required for extermination of rental properties of more than four apartment units at one location. Reference Ohio Revised Code 921.06.

(F)

The occupant must maintain the living area in a sanitary manner. The living area must be kept free of clutter and harborage. The premises shall be kept free of obvious food sources for pests. The floors shall be sanitary and dry.

(G)

It shall be unlawful for any person to put outdoors, or allow to be put outdoors, any food for the purpose of nourishing birds, fowl, or non-domestic animals where such food shall be available to rats, unless such food shall be in an above-ground level birdfeed container inaccessible to rats. It shall be unlawful for any person to attract "pest" birds by leaving bread or other non-seed type food material on the ground, or by setting out such food in a manner that allows it to be scattered on the ground by squirrels, birds, or other wildlife. Pest birds shall be defined as pigeons, starlings, sparrows, and blackbirds.

(H)

No occupied building shall be permitted to be open to the ingress of pigeons or wild animals that shall create a nuisance or menace to the health of the occupants and neighboring individuals.

(I)

The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination within the structure prior to renting or leasing the structure.

(J)

The occupant of a one-family dwelling shall be responsible for extermination on the premises, except where there is a rat infestation due to a structural issue that allows access to the premises by rodents, in which case extermination will be the responsibility of the owner.

(K)

The owner of a structure containing two or more dwelling units, a multiple occupancy, a rooming house or a nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination in all interior and exterior areas of the structure and property.

(Amended, Sept. 24, 1981; a. March 22, 2011, § 1)