Laserfiche WebLink
<br />.Neighborhood Nuisance Handbook <br /> <br />Page 10 of17 <br /> <br />period of time. <br /> <br />HAZARDS (various) <br /> <br />The City can abate a wide variety of hazards, including anything or condition on a property which is <br />a fire hazard (or violation of the Fire Code), health hazard (or violation of any health or sanitation <br />law) or any other type of hazard. <br /> <br />Other hazards might include open holes, open foundations, open wells, dangerous trees or limbs, <br />abandoned refrigerators, or other hazardous conditions. <br /> <br />To notify the City about a hazard, call the responsible City department. In general, Public Health is <br />responsible for health-related hazards and exterior problems. Fire Prevention is responsible for fire <br />hazards. If you are not sure where to call, call Citizen Services, which will pass the information on to <br />the appropriate City department (266-8989). <br /> <br />JUNK CARS AND ABANDONED VEHICLES <br /> <br />A vehicle is an illegal "abandoned vehicle" if it is: <br /> <br />Left on public property illegally for more than 48 hours (e.g. overtime parking, snowbird); On private <br />property without the property owner's consent for more than 48 hours; Inoperable or lacking vital <br />component parts; e.g. motor, drive train, or wheels and has been left outside for more than 48 hours. <br />If the vehicle is inside a garage or enclosed shed, it is legal. On private property for repairs for more <br />than 30 days; or Without current license plates for 90 days.It is legal to have two, three or more cars <br />in a driveway, unless those cars are abandoned vehicles. <br /> <br />If you are bothered by junk cars like those on private property, call Public Health (292-7771). They <br />will send out an inspector, who will write an order to correct the problem. If the cars are on the street <br />or on public property, contact the police who will mark the tires, and return to see if the car has been <br />moved or the problem corrected. <br /> <br />If the problem is not corrected, the vehicle eventually will be towed to the City impound lot. Once it <br />is towed, the vehicle's disposition depends on its age and condition. If it is more than 7 years old, <br />lacks vital component parts, or lacks a current license plate, it can be sold at public auction at any <br />time if not retrieved by owners. <br /> <br />If the vehicle is newer, licensed, and operable, the police will notify the owner that the car has been <br />impounded and the owner has 45 days from the notice to reclaim the car. Reclaiming the car means <br />paying towing and storage charges. If the car is not reclaimed, it can be sold at public auction. <br /> <br />Occasionally, the City will do a "sweep" for junk cars. Instead of waiting for complaints, inspectors <br />will drive through an area of the City noting and tagging all abandoned vehicles. If you would like to <br />see a "sweep" in your neighborhood, contact your District Councilor Councilmember. <br /> <br />NEIGHBORS, ANNOYING <br /> <br />Enforcement of City ordinances and state laws, in dealing with nuisance situations, is a formal <br />method of handling neighborhood problems. However, there are many times when nuisances which <br />are the subject of neighborhood disputes can be handled by informal control more effectively than by <br />formal control. Examples are when the problem may not be a clear violation, the formal City <br />procedures may take a long time, or people may not want to call inspectors or the police about their <br />neighbors. <br /> <br />http://www.stpaul.gov/council/handbook.html <br /> <br />07/06/1999 <br />