§ 8-534. Definitions.

The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Agent means any person registered with the unified government as an agent for a property, or any nonowner listed on the county tax roll as the person to receive the tax bill notice.

Excessive growth or hazardous premises means any weed, grass or uncultivated vegetation which is more than eight inches in height above the ground or 12 inches in length, if matted down, as measured along the stem, and shall include all trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers and ornamental or garden plants, either cultivated or uncultivated, if such plants are not made readily distinguishable from surrounding vegetation of excessive growth, and plants which are poisonous to the touch, including poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The term "excessive growth" or "hazardous premises" includes an accumulation of weeds, vegetation, dead organic matter, debris or similar materials or conditions which constitute a fire, health or safety hazard.

Person means any individual, individuals, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, other business organization, committee, board, trustee, receiver, agent, or any representative who has charge, care or responsibility for maintenance of any property, lot or parcel of land, regardless of status as owner, tenant or lessee, and regardless of whether such person has possession.

Property owner means the named property owner as indicated by the records of the register of deeds or appraiser's office in the county, and for purposes of this article, shall include the owner of property abutting the streets, alleys, avenues, boulevards, public easements and public rights-of-way.

Representative means any person or entity listed in the county appraiser's office or treasurer's office for the purposes of paying taxes, a registered agent with the state secretary's office for corporate or partnership ownership, an agent or manager directed by the property owner, estate or court order to represent the interests of the property or to otherwise control activities on the real property, or a corporate officer.

Tenant means any person who has a severable or nonseverable interest in the real property, either by oral or written lease or covenant or by other methods of conveying a limited interest in such lands, or any person who occupies or has possession of such real property.

Vegetation means, but is not limited to, weeds, woody vines, brush, grass and uncultivated plants.

Weeds means, but is not limited to, kudzu (Pueraria lobata), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Russian Knapweed (Centaurea picris), hoary cress (Lepidium draba), Canada thistle (Cirsium Arvense), quackgrass (Agropyron repens), leafy spurge (Euphobia esula), burraweed (Franseria tomentosa and discolor), pignut (Hoffmannseggia densiflora), musk (nodding), thistle (Carduus nutans L.), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) and multiflora rose (Rosa Multiflora).

(Code 1988, § 8-574; Ord. No. 65619, § 5, 4-19-1991; Ord. No. O-5-19 , § 1, 2-14-2019)