§ 54-59. Accumulation or storage of partially dismantled or inoperative vehicles on private property.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided herein, no person or corporation, whether he is the owner, tenant or manager of private property, or whether he is the last registered owner of the vehicle or transferee on a bill of sale covering the vehicle, shall permit the accumulation on private property of one or more vehicles which do not meet the following conditions:

(1)

Any motor vehicle, as defined in the Michigan Vehicle Code, must be in operating condition and eligible for use in accordance with the requirements of the Michigan Vehicle Code, being Public Act No. 300 of 1949, as amended, provided that any such vehicle may not comply with these regulations for a period not exceeding 30 days.

(2)

These requirements include, but are not limited to, an engine that runs, pneumatic tires capable of holding air, current license plates, and a working battery.

(3)

Any other vehicle, not defined as a "motor vehicle" in the Michigan Vehicle Code, must be operable, have tires capable of holding air (when originally equipped with tires), a motor which runs, and a working battery, provided that any such vehicle may not comply with these regulations for a period not exceeding 30 days.

(b)

Any person enumerated in this section, under special conditions of hardship, or for valid reasons such as the preservation of a historic or a classic vehicle, may request an extension of the limitation period set forth above described by filing a timely request with the city commission. The city commission may, at its discretion, after review of all the circumstances and after holding any hearings which it deems necessary, grant the applicant any reasonable extension of time.

(c)

These provisions shall apply in all zoning districts as follows:

(1)

In all residential zoning districts, inoperable vehicles shall be stored in a completely enclosed building.

(2)

In all other zoning districts, inoperable vehicles shall be stored behind an opaque barrier or fence, which barrier or fence shall otherwise comply with all the provisions of the zoning ordinance pertaining to fences at sections 60-184 and 60-278

(d)

Any person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and subject to the fines enumerated in chapter 30, regarding civil infraction actions and establishment of a municipal ordinance violations bureau. Any violation shall also constitute a public nuisance, subject to abatement in accordance with the anti-blight ordinance of the City of Alma pertaining to blight.

(Code 1961, § 4-152; Code 1984, § 29-36; Ord. No. 597, § 1, 4-14-1998; Ord. No. 750, § 1, 9-11-2012)

Editor's note

Section 1 of Ord. No. 750, adopted Sept. 11, 2012, changed the title of § 54-59 from "Accumulation or storage of partially dismantled or inoperative motor vehicles on private property" to read as herein set out.

Cross reference

Anti-blight/nuisance, ch. 22, art. V.