§ 11-222. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, certain terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Abandoned real property means any property that is vacant and is under a current notice of default or notice of mortgagee's sale by the lender or the subject of a tax lien certificate sale or properties that have been the subject of a foreclosure sale where the title was retained by the beneficiary of a mortgage involved in the foreclosure and any properties transferred under a deed in lieu of foreclosure or sale.

Accessible property means a property that is accessible through a comprised or breached gate, fence, wall or similar barrier.

Accessible structure means a structure or building that is unsecured or breached in such a way as to allow access to the interior space by unauthorized persons.

Agricultural uses means those uses of land which involve the science and art of production of plants and animals useful to man including to a variable extent, the preparation of these products for man's use and their disposal by marketing or otherwise and shall include horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, aquaculture, forestry, dairy, livestock, including the breeding and training of horses, poultry, bees, ratites, and any and all forms of farm products and farm production.

Code inspector shall mean any authorized agent or employee of the county, whose duty it is to assure compliance with the codes and ordinances of the county.

Director means the Marion County Growth Services Director.

Division means the Marion County Growth Services, Code Enforcement Division.

Evidence of vacancy means any condition that on its own, or combined with other conditions present, would lead a reasonable person to believe that the property is vacant. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, overgrown or dead vegetation, accumulation of abandoned personal property, statements by neighbors, passers-by, delivery agents or government agents, among other evidence that the property is vacant.

Foreclosure means the process by which a property, placed as security for a real estate loan, is sold at public sale to satisfy the debt if the borrower defaults.

General agriculture means those uses of land which involve the science and art of production of plants and animals useful to man including to a variable extent, the preparation of these products for man's use and their disposal by marketing or otherwise and shall include horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, aquaculture, forestry, dairy, livestock, including the breeding and training of horses, poultry, bees, ratites, and any and all forms of farm products and farm production.

Improved lot means any lot as defined which contains a principal structure as defined in the Marion County Land Development Code, or that has been cleared of existing vegetation for the purposes of constructing a principal structure in the future.

Inspection means a close viewing of the property and the exterior of any structures located thereon placed as security for a real estate loan and includes a viewing of any interior portions of the structure which are visible from the outside of the structure. However, an inspection does not require an entry into any structure for purpose of viewing the interior.

Lot means a designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed, or built upon.

Manager means the code enforcement division manager.

Non-intensive agriculture means the milking, feeding or sheltering of farm animals or growing of supplemental food supplies for the domestic, non-commercial use of the families living on the land. Nuisance means the keeping, maintaining, propagation, existence, or permission of anything by any person or entity, by which the health or lives of individuals, may be threatened or impaired, or by which or through which, directly or indirectly, disease may be caused.

Nuisance weeds means the accumulation or untended growth of weeds, grass, undergrowth or other dead or living plant life to the extent that abandon property is, or may reasonable become, inhabited by rats, mice, other rodents, snakes, vermin, or pests, or may furnish a breeding or harboring place for flies, mosquitoes or other harmful insects, or impairs the economic welfare of adjacent property.

Owner. The word owner applied to a building or land shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.

Property management company means a property manager, property maintenance company or similar entity responsible for the maintenance of abandoned real property.

Unimproved lot shall mean any lot in its natural state.

Vacant means any building or structure that is not legally occupied.

(Ord. No. 14-20, § 2, 8-5-2014)