Wednesday, August 11, 2010 4:33 pm

Residents of Woodbury have a civic duty to keep their property properly maintained. But if a property owner or tenant chooses not to do so, it is the duty of the Woodbury Police Department to enforce city ordinances.

City ordinances make it illegal for the owner of property within city limits to go without proper maintenance.

The ordinances cover such matters as weeds, inoperative vehicles park on property, streets or in alleys, and household goods, equipment and machinery left on property for more than 48 hours unless in an area completely enclosed by a screen fence.

The Woodbury Police Department issues warnings and citations to those who do not abide by the ordinances.

However, according to Police Chief Tony Burnett, 90% of all citizens abide by the ordinances.

The minority who do not are reminded of the following ordinances:

13-301. Vehicles prohibited on property, streets or alleys. It shall be unlawful for any corporation, partnership, or individual or individuals to have upon the public street, alley, or private property in the Town of Woodbury, Tennessee any vehicle which is inoperative or unregistered for a period longer than thirty (30) days.

Any violation of 13-301 subjects the violator to a fine of up to $50 for each day the violation continues.

13-104. Weeds. Every owner or tenant of property shall periodically cut the grass and other vegetation commonly recognized as weeds on his property, and it shall be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with an order by the recorder or chief of police to cut such vegetation when it has reached a height of over one (1) foot.

13-504. Storage of household goods and equipment, etc., prohibited unless enclosed. No person, whether he be owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, or otherwise of any property or premises shall place, allow, discard, maintain, park, store or permit to be placed, allowed, discarded, maintained, parked or stored upon said property or premises for a period of time exceeding 48 hours any dismantled, abandoned, nonoperating, junked, damaged or destroyed household goods and equipment, motor vehicles, machinery or miscellaneous property as herein defined; provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any property or premises where said household goods and equipment, motor vehicles, machinery or miscellaneous property is housed within an enclosed building thereon or to any property or premises lawfully operated as a business where the same is a part of said business enterprise and necessary to operated said business on said property or premises if kept within an area completely enclosed by a screening fence so that the property enclosed is not visible to the public and to neighboring property owners.