Source: https://www.norfolk.gov/index.aspx?NID=1167
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:04:48+00:00

Document:
For more information on codes call 757-683-2712.
Editor's note--Ord. No. 39,649, § 1, adopted June 22, 1999, repealed provisions formerly codified as §§ 27-4 and 27-5, which provided for inspections by city police and provided that the executor, trustee, agent, etc., will be deemed owner of property for purposes of this chapter, and which derived from Ord. No. 38,340, adopted May 14, 1996.
Sec. 27-6. Notice of Violation.
(4) The owner of the land or premises.
Proof of such service, delivery, mailing or posting shall be sufficient evidence of such service of notice.
(b) Notwithstanding the above, in the event the director of public health or his designee or the person specified in section 27-3(c) determines that the nuisance constitutes an imminent, substantial or compelling threat to the public health or the environment, the notice requirement shall be dispensed with, and the procedure provided in City Code section 27-10 may be utilized.
(c) Any person issued a notice of violation pursuant to this section who shall fail to comply therewith within the time specified shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person receiving two or more notices within twelve (12) months of an initial violation notice and who fails to comply with a notice issued pursuant to this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Sec. 27-7. Executor, trustee, agent, etc., deemed owner of property for purposes of chapter.
When any person is in possession of any property, or has charge thereof, within the city as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or agent, such person shall be deemed to be the owner of such property for the purposes of this article and shall be bound to obey all orders of the director of public health, or his designee, in regard to nuisances, sanitation, or other matters, so far as the same may affect such property, in the same manner, and subject to the same penalties and fines, as if such person were actually the owner of such property, and notice to such person shall be deemed to be sufficient.
Sec. 27-8. Notice of abatement by city; abatement by city.
(a) If a nuisance remains upon a land or premises after the expiration of the time specified in a notice of violation, the director of public health, or his designee, may issue a notice of abatement to such person identified in the notice of violation informing said person that the director of public health or his designee will cause the nuisance to be abated at the expense of such person in the time set by the director of health or his designee. An administrative fee shall be assessed in each case as permitted by Virginia Code section 58.1-3958. The expense of abatement and the administrative fee shall be chargeable against such person.
*Charter reference(s)--Authority of city to compel abatement and removal of nuisances, § 2(16); lien for expenses incurred in abating nuisances, § 89.
Cross reference(s)--Responsibilities of superintendent of solid waste removal as to nuisances on streets and other public places, § 41-3.
State law reference(s)--Authority of city with respect to abatement of nuisances, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-14(s), 15.1-867.
(a) For purposes of this article, a "nuisance" is defined as any condition, substance, material or thing which may be annoying, obnoxious, offensive, irritating or detrimental or potentially hazardous or detrimental to the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the public or the environment, including, but not limited to, refuse, trash, rubbish, debris, junk, garbage, containers, wire, glass, wood, ashes, animal matter, vegetable matter, human and animal wastes, and odors.
(b) For purposes of this article, a "person" is defined as any individual, firm, owner, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, governmental body, municipal corporation, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, agent, occupant or other legal entity.
(c) For purposes of this article, "vegetable matter" is defined as any grass, weeds, bushes, underbrush, poison ivy, poison oak or any other vegetable matter which has grown to sufficient height and cover or to a height of more than twelve (12) inches or accumulated so as to provide cover or harborage or potential cover or harborage for rodents or vermin.
(a) The director of public health or his designee is hereby vested with the authority to require the abatement of any and all conditions in the city which constitute a nuisance or are detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare or the environment.
(b) It shall be the duty of the director of public health or his designee to have made continuous sanitary inspections of all parts of the city and to cause all nuisances to be abated; and when necessary, to institute legal proceedings therefore and for the recovery of expenses incurred by the city in abating any nuisance.
(c) Any law enforcement officer, fire marshal or any of his assistants, fire inspectors, or sworn special police officer, is authorized and shall have authority to enforce all provisions of this chapter.
(b) The notice of abatement may either be served, mailed or delivered to said person, or posted on the land or premises where the nuisance is located. Proof of such service, delivery, mailing or posting shall be sufficient evidence of such service of notice. If the premises where the nuisance is located is vacant, notice of abatement shall be provided in a newspaper of general circulation in the City once at least five (5) days prior to the abatement commencing.
(c) Notwithstanding the above in the event the director of health or his designee determines that the nuisance constitutes an imminent, substantial or compelling threat to the public health or to the environment the notice requirement herein shall be dispensed with.
(d) Notwithstanding the above, the notice of violation specified in section 27-6 and the notice of abatement specified in this section can be combined in one document and issued as provided in this article.
(e) If the abatement is done at the expense of the owner, the expense of the abatement and the administrative fee shall constitute a lien on real property of the owner and shall be reported to the city treasurer who shall collect the same in the manner in which city taxes levied upon real estate are authorized to be collected.
(f) Abatement by the city shall be exclusive of and in addition to any criminal penalty which may be imposed.
Sec. 27-9. Duty of owner or occupant of abutting land to remove solid waste and to cut grass, weeds and other vegetable matter between sidewalk and curb.
It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant of any land or premises abutting upon any public right of way, including between the sidewalk and curb, whether paved or not, and the duty of the owner of any unoccupied land or premises abutting upon any public right of way, including between the sidewalk and curb, whether paved or not, to remove solid waste (as defined in chapter 14.5 of the City Code), therefrom and to have any grass, weeds and other vegetable matter cut and removed, and at all times to prevent such area from becoming unsightly, impeded, or offensive by reason of failure to remove any such solid waste (as defined in chapter 14.5 of the City Code), or cut any such grass, weeds and vegetable matter. No grass, weeds or other vegetable matter so cut shall be deposited or piled in any gutter or street, or storm water system. The occupant or the owner, or if unoccupied, the owner, of any such land or premises in front of which any such solid waste (as defined in chapter 14.5 of the City Code) or any such grass, weeds or vegetable matter is found contrary to the provisions of this section shall be prima facie the person responsible therefor. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing any person to cut or remove any city tree or bush without first obtaining a permit from the director of neighborhood and leisure services or his designee.
Sec. 27-10. Placarding of structure, building or facility which constitutes imminent, substantial or compelling threat to public health or safety; unlawful to occupy or use once placarded.
In the event the director of public health or his designee determines that the nuisance constitutes an imminent, substantial or compelling threat to the public health or the environment, the director of public health or his designee may placard the structure, building or facility as unfit or unsafe for human occupancy or use. The placard shall be posted at all normal means of egress to the structure, building or facility. As soon as possible after placarding, the director of public health or his designee shall mail or deliver a notice to the owner(s) or occupant(s) of the structure, building or facility informing such person of the reason for placarding and the penalty for occupancy or reuse while placarded. Once the structure, building or facility is placarded, the occupancy or use shall be prohibited. Occupancy in or use of a placarded structure, building or facility shall constitute a class 1 misdemeanor. No re-occupancy or reuse shall occur until the director of public health or his designee approves in writing the re-occupancy or reuse. Removal of a placard without permission of the director of public health or his designee shall constitute a class 1 misdemeanor.
Editor's note--Ord. No. 39,649, § 1, adopted June 22, 1999, repealed provisions formerly codified as §§ 27-10--27-13, which derived from Ord. No. 38,340, adopted May 14, 1996, and which contained provisions relating to the prevention of breeding of flies; collection of water in which mosquitoes may breed; the filling of cellars and lots and lot drainage; and the cutting and removal of weeds and other vegetable matter on vacant developed and undeveloped property.
*Editor's note--Section 1 of Ord. No. 36,406, adopted April 30, 1991, amended Ch. 26 to read as set out in §§ 26-1--26-13. Former §§ 26-14, 26-15, 26-31--26-33 and 26-46--26-53 were repealed by § 2 of the ordinance. Prior to amendment, Ch. 26 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Code 1958, §§ 29-6, 31-48, 31-69--31-72.
Charter reference(s)--Authority of city to prevent unnecessary noise, § 2(16).
Cross reference(s)--Advertising, Ch. 3; animals, Ch. 6; creation of loud, unreasonable, etc., noise by persons aboard boat, § 9-134; use of noise-making devices on vehicles used for sale of ice cream, § 18-166; license tax for sound trucks, § 24-118; motor vehicle code, Ch. 25; prohibited noise-making devices and further limitations on use of vehicle horns, § 25-47; requirements of motor vehicle code relative to vehicle exhaust, § 25-54 et seq.; use of sound-amplifying equipment on pedestrian malls, § 31-26; use of noise to attract attention to auctions, § 38-24.
(a) A-weighted sound level. The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(A).
(b) Ambient noise. The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds from many sources near and far. Ambient noise levels are established by taking a series of observations on the adversely affected property. It is the sound level that is exceeded 90% of the time in this set of observations.
(c) Commercial area. As defined in the zoning ordinance of the City of Norfolk, 1968 (hereinafter "zoning ordinance").
(d) Construction area. Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration or similar action for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.
(e) Decibel (dB). A unit for measuring the volume of sound, equal to twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty (20) micropascals (twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter).
(f) Emergency means. Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
(g) Impulsive sound. Sound of short duration usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
(h) Industrial area. As defined by the zoning ordinance.
(i) Muffler or sound dissipating device. A device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an international combustion engine.
(j) Noise. Any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.
(k) Noise disturbance. Any sound which (i) endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals; or (ii) annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities; or (iii) endangers or injures personal or real property.
(l) Noise control officer. Any police officer or health officer of the city responsible for the enforcement of this chapter (hereinafter "officer").
(m) Noise sensitive zone. Any area designated by the city for the purpose of ensuring exceptional quiet. Noise sensitive activities include, but are not limited to, operations of schools, libraries open to the public, churches, hospitals and other health care facilities.
(n) Real property boundary. An imaginary line along the ground surface and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person, but not including intrabuilding real property divisions.
(o) Residential area. As defined in the zoning ordinance.
(p) Sound. An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that cause compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristics of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
(q) Sound level. The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C as specified in the American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ASA 47-1983, or a later revision thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
Sec. 26-2. Violations of chapter generally.
(1) The playing of any television set, radio, tape player, phonograph or any musical instrument in such a manner or with such volume as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of reasonable persons.
(2) The keeping of any animal which, by causing frequent or long-continued noise, shall disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of the neighborhood to such an extent as to constitute a nuisance.
(3) The creation of any excessive noise on any street adjacent to any hospital which unreasonably interferes with the workings of or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in such hospital.
(4) The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
(5) The use of any drum, loudspeaker or other instrument or device for the purpose of attracting attention, by creation of noise, to any performance, show or sale or display of merchandise.
140 1 (6) The use of air horns, claxons or whistles inside any civic facility prior to, during or after any scheduled event.
(7) The unreasonable operation of any motor-driven vehicle upon any property within the city or on its streets, or the unreasonable acceleration of the engine of any vehicle, or the unreasonable sounding, blowing or operation of the horn or other warning device of such vehicle in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any neighborhood or of any reasonable person residing in such area.
(1) Sound created by the operation of mobile power equipment, such as power lawn mowers and chain saws, shall not be regulated, provided the operation of said equipment is limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and such equipment is operated with standard muffler or sound dissipating devices.
(2) Sound generated by the construction, repair, maintenance, demolition or alteration of buildings, streets, drives, sewers, utility lines or premises.
(3) Sound generated by the operation of any emergency governmental function.
(4) Sound generated during any emergency repairs or operations during any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
Sec. 26-4. Playing of radios, television sets, musical instruments and similar devices.
Sec. 26-5. Loading and unloading.
Sec. 26-6. Vehicle or motorboat repairs and testing.
Cross reference(s)--Muffling devices for motorboats, § 9-120.
Sec. 26-7. Airport, aircraft, military flight and railway operations.
Sec. 26-8. Places of public entertainment.
Sec. 26-9. Air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, pumping, filtering equipment.
Sec. 26-10. Maximum sound pressure levels.
Use Category Sound Level Limit db(A).
Sec. 26-11. Immediate threats to health and welfare.
(a) A noise control officer shall order an immediate halt to any sound which exposes any person to sound levels in excess of those shown below as Table II, "Impulsive Sound Levels."
(b) Any violation of this section shall be deemed a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Sec. 26-12. Violations; additional remedies; injunctions.
Sec. 26-13. Noise sensitive zones.
State law reference(s)--Authority of city to regulate swimming pools, Code of Virginia, §§ 15.1-858, 35.1-9.
(a) Generally. For the purposes of this chapter, certain words shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section.
(b) Fence means a close-type vertical barrier not less than forty-eight (48) inches in height above the ground surface. A woven steel wire, chain link, picket or solid board type fence or a fence of similar construction, which will prevent the smallest of children from getting through, shall be construed as within this definition.
(c) Private residential swimming pool means any swimming pool which is used, or intended to be used, as a swimming pool in connection with a single-family residence and which is available only to the family of the householder and his or her private guests.
(d) Public swimming pool means any swimming pool, other than a private residential swimming pool, intended to be used collectively by numbers of persons for swimming or bathing, operated by any person, as owner, lessee, operator or concessionaire, regardless of whether a fee is charged for such use, and shall include, but not be limited to, a swimming pool owned or operated as a private club or association, civic club or any association, or in conjunction with an apartment house or complex.
(e) Spray pool means any shallow manmade structure constructed from materials other than natural earth or soil used for spraying humans with water and which has a drainage area designated to remove the water from the shower or spray nozzles at a rate sufficient to prevent the impounding of water.
(f) Swimming pool or pool means any outdoor or indoor man-made structure constructed from material other than natural earth or soil designed or used to hold water for the purpose of providing a swimming or bathing place for any person or any such structure for the purpose of impounding water therein to a depth of more than two (2) feet; and, unless otherwise specified, such term shall include all appurtenant equipment, structures and facilities for the purpose of providing a swimming or bathing place for any person or persons.
Sec. 43-2. Purpose and application of chapter.
(a) This chapter is intended to provide, consistent with and in addition to all applicable laws, regulations governing sanitation and health in the use and operation of swimming pools, as indicated and defined herein, including all appurtenant structures and accessories incident thereto, but excluding private residential swimming pools, except as hereinafter specifically provided, single-occupant tanks and showers used exclusively for therapeutic purposes.
Sec. 43-3. Violations of chapter.
Sec. 43-5. Orders to correct defective conditions.
Sec. 43-6. Closing of dangerous pools.
Sec. 43-7. General maintenance and operating requirements.
Sec. 43-24. Application of article.
The provisions of this article shall apply to public swimming pools and shall be in addition to other provisions of this chapter applicable to such pools.
(a) No person shall construct, maintain, use, possess or control any outdoor public swimming pool, without having completely around such pool a fence, as defined in section 43-1(b). Every gate in such fence shall be capable of being securely fastened at a height of not less than four (4) feet above ground level, and it shall be unlawful for any such gate to be allowed to remain unfastened while the pool is not in use. Such fence shall be constructed so as to come within two (2) inches of the ground at the bottom and shall be at least five (5) feet from the edge of the pool at any point.
(b) In lieu of the fence required by subsection (a) above, a natural barrier, hedge, pool cover or other protective device may be used so long as the degree of protection afforded by such device is not less than the protection afforded by a fence, as defined in section 43-1(b).
Sec. 43-27. Chemical treatment of water--Generally.
(a) The provisions of this section shall apply to public swimming pools.
(b) At all times when the swimming pool is open for use, a minimum of 0.5 ppm (parts per million) free chlorine residual shall be maintained in all parts of the pool.
(c) At all times when the swimming pool is open for use, the pH of the pool water shall be kept between 7.2 and 7.8.
(d) Where cyanuric acid is used as a stabilizing agent of residual chlorine, or if the source of residual chlorine is from a chlorinated cyanurate, a chlorine residual of at least 1.0 ppm shall be maintained with cyanuric acid residual of 25 ppm and at least 1.5 ppm chlorine shall be maintained with cyanuric acid residuals of 50 ppm.
(e) Alum shall not be fed continuously to pool water in sand or anthiacite filters. Formation of alum floc shall be achieved separately and applied directly to the filter influent during the filter cycle.
Sec. 43-28. Same--Records to be kept.
Sec. 43-29. Chemical testing equipment.
(a) Each public swimming pool shall be provided with satisfactory equipment for the determination of hydrogen ion concentration (pH) ranging from 6.8 to 8.2. Satisfactory equipment shall be provided for determination of a free chlorine residual content reading from 0.2 to 3.0 ppm. Pools maintained under a stabilizer program shall be provided with satisfactory equipment for determining cyanuric acid content readings ranging from 20 to 100 ppm.
Sec. 43-30. Operation of filters; clarity of water.
Sec. 43-31. Filter room placard.
(1) The size of the public swimming pool in square feet.
(2) The volume of water in gallons.
(3) Capacity of filters in square feet and gallons per minute.
(4) Capacity of pumps in gallons per minute at the appropriate head of pressure in feet.
(5) Head loss at which the filters should be backwashed.
(6) Complete instructions for operating the recirculation and disinfection equipment.
Sec. 43-32. Maximum number of swimmers.
Sec. 43-33. Use by persons with skin disorders, disease, etc.; spitting, spouting water, etc., prohibited.
(a) The operator of a public swimming pool shall not knowingly allow persons having skin eruptions, abrasions, sore or infected eyes, nasal or ear discharge, a cold or other communicable disease to use such pool. Spitting, spouting water, blowing the nose, urinating or defecating in such pool is prohibited.
Sec. 43-34. Laundering, storing and handling bathing suits and towels furnished users.
Sec. 43-35. Toilet, lavatory and shower facilities.
(a) Toilet facilities. Toilet facilities, including rooms and fixtures at a public swimming pool shall be kept in clean condition and good repair.
(b) Lavatories. Lavatories at a public swimming pool shall be equipped with adequate liquid or powdered soap from plastic or metal dispensers, and approved hand-drying towels or other devices. Such facilities shall be kept in a clean condition and in good repair. Waste receptacles shall be provided.
(c) Showers. Each shower at a public swimming pool shall be equipped with adequate liquid or powdered soap from a metal or plastic soap dispenser. Every swimmer entering the pool area shall be required to take a shower.
Sec. 43-36. Animals, fowl and pets prohibited.
Cross reference(s)--Animals and fowl, Ch. 6.
Where any combination of the above pools exists on the same site, the total fee for all such pools shall in no event exceed the fee charged for a single swimming pool permit.
Sec. 43-52. Valid only for specific person and pool.

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