ORD 2520 ORDINANCE NO .
AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 8 . 06 of the Camas
Municipal Code by revising definitions , adding provisions relating
to nuisance determinations and proscribing a revised penalty .
Section I
Section 8 . 06 . 030 of the Camas Municipal Code is hereby amended to delete in total the
definition of " civil violation " and the definition of "junk vehicle " .
Section II
Section 8 . 06 . 040 (b ) (2 ) is hereby amended to provide as follows :
2 . Commercial , industrial , military , civic or institutional property which has a
solid material or chain link fence no less than six feet in height may be topped with barbed wire .
Section III
Section 8 . 06 . 040 H is hereby amended to provide as follows :
H . Maintenance of swimming and landscape pools . All swimming pools ,
landscape pools/ponds and spas shall be properly maintained so as not to create a safety hazard or
harbor insect infestation , or create visibly deteriorated or blighted appearance . All landscape
pools/ponds shall be maintained at a depth not to exceed two feet . All landscape . pools/ponds of
a depth greater than two feet shall be secured by a barrier as provided in this subsection . All
swimming pools and spas shall provide protection against potential drownings and near
drownings by restricting access in compliance with the 2006 International Residential Code ,
Appendix G , as adopted pursuant to CMC 15 . 04 . 010 , as amended . Failure to properly maintain
or provide appropriate barriers of any swimming pool , landscape pool/pond subject to the
provisions of this subsection , and/or spa, is declared to be a public nuisance .
All water utilized in any landscape pool/pond shall be confined on site and barriers shall
be erected sufficient to prevent any off site flow to present substantial damage to adjoining
properties .
Section IV
Section 8 . 06 . 040 J is hereby amended to provide as follows :
J . Open and Abandoned Ground Cavities : With the exception of facilities that
have been permitted for the detention/storage of storm water , open holes which may endanger
public safety shall be abated , filled or sealed . Holes wider than 12 " and deeper than 24 " , with a
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slope of 2 (horizontal ) : l (vertical ) or greater and that have the capability of retaining water , are
presumptively dangerous to public safety . Holes which may endanger the public safety include ,
but are not limited to , wells , cisterns , open cesspools , septic tanks , excavations , in- ground
swimming pools no longer in use , or open foundations . Failure to abate an open hole pursuant to
this subsection is deemed to be a public nuisance .
Section V
A new subsection 8 . 06 . 040 O is hereby adopted as follows :
O . Insect Breeding and Infestation .
Items that remain outside the confines of a structure or building such as buckets , barrels ,
flower pots , wheelbarrows , wading pools , bottles , cans , bird baths and other items that routinely
hold water shall be maintained to prevent any water accumulation from becoming stagnant and
providing a place for mosquitoes or other insects to breed . Failure to comply with the provisions
of this subsection is hereby deemed a public nuisance .
Section VI
Section 8 . 06 . 060 C is hereby amended to provide as follows :
C . Trash Covered Premises .
1 . All premises and vacant land , whether improved or unimproved , shall be maintained
free from any accumulation of garbage , household trash , litter , rubble , debris , etc . The
causing , maintaining or permitting of trash- covered premises is declared to be a public
nuisance . This section does not apply to that portion of the property that cannot be seen
from the street , sidewalk , or a neighbor ' s property .
2 . If there is a presence of a threat to public health or safety, this subsection may be
deemed to constitute a public health , safety and welfare nuisance under CMC 8 . 06 . 04 .
Section VII
A new subsection 8 . 06 . 060 D 5 and 6 is hereby adopted as follows :
5 . No property zoned RI or MF may be used for the purpose of storing any
commercial vehicle ( as defined by WSDOT) unless such vehicle is stored within a building or is
otherwise screened so as not to be visible from another property or from any public right- of- way .
6 . All parking of vehicles and vehicle accessories in properties zoned RI or MF
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will be maintained in compliance with any applicable conditions delineated on the face of the
plat .
Section VIII
A new subsection 8 . 06 . 060 E , F , G , H , I , J and K is hereby adopted as follows :
E . Weeds , Trees and Other Vegetation .
1 . Premises shall be maintained free from uncontrolled or uncultivated Class A , B and C
noxious weeds as defined by the State Noxious Weed Control Board , brush , berry vines ,
poison oak/ivy , and dead , diseased , infested or dying trees .
2 . Premises occupied by a dwelling or building shall maintain all grass and plant growth to
avoid visual blight upon the area, prevent the harboring of insects or rodent infestations ,
and/or prevent fire hazard . With the exception of cultivated shrubs , bushes , grasses , trees ,
flowers and other cultivated plants and crops , all grasses and plant growth shall not exceed
eight inches in height .
3 . Premises of one acre or less upon which is located no occupied building or structure
shall not allow grasses and other plant growth in excess of 12 " .
4 . Undeveloped properties that are one acre or larger in size shall be mowed a minimum
of fifty feet from all structures and dwellings , surface improvements and property lines so
as to maintain grass and other plant growth at a maximum height of 12 " or less .
F . Accumulation of plant trimmings .
Accumulation on premises of any plant trimmings including trimmings from any lawn ,
hedge , weeds , flowers or trees , is not permitted and is deemed to be a public nuisance . The
provisions of this subsection do not apply to any portion of premises maintained as part of
any open space designation . The provisions of said subsection further do not apply to any
properly maintained compost pile , with the following requirements :
1 . Acceptable compost materials : fruit and vegetable scraps , coffee grounds and egg
shells may be composted . Yard waste may be composted so long as yard waste does not
include grass clippings or hedge or tree trimmings greater than 1/4 " in diameter . All
composted materials must be generated from the site at which the compost is located .
ilable ingredients specifically designed to speed or
Individuals may add commercially ava
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enhance decomposition .
2 . Prohibited compost materials : Unshredded branches or logs , meat , bone , fat , oil , whole
eggs , dairy products , weeds heavily laden with seeds , plastics , synthetic fibers , human or
pet waste , diseased plants or any other garbage or refuse shall not be composted .
3 . Composting method : Material shall be contained in a bin or composted in a manner
which provides for rapid and odorless composting .
4 . Location of composting structures : Compost structures shall be placed in the rear yard
of a property in such a location as to avoid impacts on neighboring properties such as
odors , vermin , and insects .
5 . Compost management : Persons who compost according to the requirements of this
subsection shall use standard compost practices , which shall include providing adequate air
circulation to prevent combustion and objectionable odors to adjacent properties .
Composting that results in objectionable odors or includes prohibited materials , or both, is
prohibited . Any violation of the regulations concerning the maintenance of a compost pile
as described herein is deemed to be a public nuisance .
G . Unattended personal property .
1 . No household good , furniture , appliance or other tangible item of personal property
shall be placed in any yard or driveway indicating by sign or notice that the item is " free "
or otherwise for sale when said item is not attended to or monitored by the party providing
or selling the item . To do so is declared to be a public nuisance .
2 . No household good , furniture , appliance or other item of personal property shall be
on a sidewalk, street , or right- of--way indicating by sign or notice that the item is
placed up
" free " or otherwise for sale . To do so is declared to be a public nuisance .
H . Excessive dust blowing :
1 . The maintenance of any premises in such a manner that permits dust or blowing soil or
blowing sand to be deposited on other property or which is deposited upon or within any
public street , public highway or public way , is deemed to be a public nuisance .
I . Yard debris disbursal .
1 . The disbursal of yard debris by lawn blowers or other means into the city streets or
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rights - of-way including , but not limited to , any lawn clippings , leaves , tree limbs , and
other vegetation is deemed to be a public nuisance .
2 . The disbursal of any yard debris as defined herein so as to fill in or obstruct any gutter
or storm water outlet is deemed to be a threat to public health or safety and is hereby
declared to be a public health , safety and welfare nuisance enforceable under CMC
8 . 06 . 040 .
J . Rodent/insect infestations
Premises shall be kept free from rodent , insect and vermin harborage and/or infestation as
determined by the County health officer . Infestations shall be promptly exterminated by
methods that ensure the public ' s health , safety and welfare . Owner shall take preventative
measures to protect buildings and premises from future infestations . Failure to comply
with the provisions of this subsection is deemed to be a public nuisance .
K . Beekeeping
Beekeeping , where permitted , is subject to the following requirements :
1 . No more than four hives per lot shall be allowed in areas zoned R1 or MF .
2 . Colonies shall be maintained in small , immoveable framed hives .
3 . Adequate space shall be maintained in the hives to prevent overcrowding and
swarming .
4 . Colonies shall be re - queened with a young hybrid queen annually or as often as
necessary to prevent any swarming or aggressive behavior .
5 . All colonies shall be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture in
accordance with the apiary law, RCW 15 . 60 . 03 0 , as amended .
6 . A hive shall not be located within twenty- five feet of any property line , except under the
following conditions :
a . When situated eight feet or more above adjacent ground level ; or
b . When there is a solid fence at least six feet high separating the hive from the property
line , extending at least twenty feet from the hive along the property line in both directions .
7 . Bees living in trees , buildings or any other space ( except immoveable frame hives ) ,
abandoned colonies , or diseased bees , or any bees kept in violation of this subsection shall
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constitute a public nuisance .
Section IX
Section 8 . 06 . 070 B 3 is hereby amended to provide as follows :
3 . Owners , agents and/or tenants failing to comply will be subject to the
following penalties :
a . For violation of CMC 8 . 06 . 040 , a monetary penalty in the amount of four hundred fifty
dollars shall be imposed .
b . For a violation of CMC 8 . 06 . 060 , a monetary penalty of three hundred dollars shall be
imposed .
Section X
Section 8 . 06 . 070 F 1 is hereby amended to provide as follows :
F . Enforcement- - Failure to Abate Nuisance . .
1 . In the event that any person is issued a citation pursuant to subsection B herein , and fails
within fifteen days of the Notice of Infraction to abate the nuisance , then the City may file
a complaint with the Camas Municipal Court alleging the maintenance of a public
nuisance in violation of this chapter . Upon filing of the complaint , the municipal court
shall issue a show cause order directing the defendant to appear at a time and place certain
and then show cause , if there be any , why an order should not be entered directing
abatement of the public nuisance . A copy of the show cause order shall be served upon the
defendant not less than five days prior to the show cause hearing .
10 . Section 8 . 06 . 070 His hereby amended to provide as follows :
H . Abatement by the City . In the event any person fails to comply with an order
of abatement issued under the provisions of this chapter , then the city may abate such
nuisance . The cost of abatement incurred by the city shall be assessed against the person
failing to comply with the order of abatement , and shall , in addition , upon petition to the
Clark County Superior Court, be assessed as a lien for recovery against the subject real
property . Penalties provided herein shall be in addition to any other penalty or fine
assessed for failure to comply with the order of abatement .
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Section XI
This ordinance shall take force and be in effect five ( 5 ) days from and after its publication
according to law .
PASSED BY the Council and APPROVED by y the Mayor this y
�`� `da of
2000 .
SIGNED :
Mayor
ATTEST :
if Clerk
4�
APPROVED as to form :
SL
City Attorney