§ 9-9.102. Purpose and Intent.

The Council of the City of Modesto finds and determines as follows:

The City has an important interest in setting standards for the improvement of the overall appearance and maintenance of properties in the City because adequate maintenance and appearance promote property values and improve the general welfare and quality of life of its citizens. In adopting this chapter, one of the primary intents is to promote voluntary compliance with the minimum property maintenance standards set forth herein.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety, economic, aesthetic and general welfare of the citizens of the City, and to protect neighborhoods against nuisances, blight and deterioration by establishing requirements for all building exteriors, whether residential or nonresidential, or structures of whatever kind, and establishing requirements for the maintenance of all land, whether improved or vacant.

Owners and occupants of some properties within the City permit conditions to exist which are injurious and inimical to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City, and contribute substantially and increasingly to the deterioration of residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. There exists a need for further emphasis than currently exists on property maintenance and sanitation, in that certain conditions, as described herein, proliferate in different locations throughout the City.

The existence of the conditions as described in this Code are injurious and adverse to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City, and contribute substantially and increasingly to the deterioration and blight of residential neighborhoods, commercial areas and industrial areas. Said conditions are declared to be public nuisances and violations of this chapter, and constitute visual blight or result in conditions which are harmful or deleterious to the public health, safety and welfare.

The abatement of certain uses and abuses of property as described in this chapter reasonably relates to the proper exercise of police power to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

Abatement of these conditions is in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City because maximum use and enjoyment of properties closely proximate to one another depends upon maintenance of those properties at or above a minimum standard of sightliness. The beneficial effects of maintaining standards of sightliness for property in the City include, but are not limited to, appreciation of property values, physical improvement and stability of residential and commercial areas, attraction of investors of capital, and maximum use of property for its highest and best use.

In crafting this chapter, it is the intent of the City to impose minimum city-wide standards for property maintenance. These provisions are intended to exist separate and apart from any existing community standards contained in any set of covenants, conditions and restrictions, and are not intended to enforce those standards.

(Added by Ord. 3512-C.S., § 2, effective 6-12-09)