§ 32-1. General regulations.

(a)

Maintenance and repair of public streets. All maintenance and repair of public streets, alleys, curbs, sidewalks, and other public ways shall be under the supervision of the director of public works, who shall have the responsibility of enforcing all provisions of this Code and all ordinances of the city relating to such public ways.

(b)

Maintenance of sidewalks. It shall be the duty of all owners of property in the city upon which sidewalks have been laid to keep such walkways in good repair at all times and to remove from them all snow or ice within 12 hours from the time such snow or ice ceases to fall, or within less time if so ordered by the code enforcement officer or the director of public works.

(c)

Maintenance of property between sidewalks and streets. All persons who own real estate in the city which abuts upon any sidewalk which is paved shall be required to keep that portion of such sidewalk which lies between the property line and the curb line of the adjoining street, and upon which his real estate abuts, in good and smooth condition and free from growing weeds and other obnoxious and unsightly vegetation or other things which would mar or detract from the beauty and cleanliness of the street upon which their property abuts. Any property owner who shall place or allow grass to grow upon the portion of the sidewalk lying between the property line and the curb line of the street as aforesaid, and upon which his real estate abuts, shall keep such grass property mowed and free from rubbish of all kinds. If such owners are not in the possession of their property, then this section shall apply to their tenants or those who have possession and/or control of the same.

(d)

Defacing sidewalks, streets, and curbs. It shall be unlawful for any person to walk or drive any vehicle upon any newly laid street, sidewalk, or curbing pavement while the same is guarded by a warning sign or barricade or is soft or newly laid.

State Law reference— Damaging property of another, O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21 et seq.

(e)

Obstructions. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, create, or maintain any obstruction on any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public way, except as may be provided in this chapter or in the ordinances and laws of the city.

(f)

Deposits and discharges onto streets and sidewalks.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit on any street or sidewalk any material which may be harmful to the pavement thereof, or any waste material, or any glass or other article which may do injury to any person, animal, or property.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or allow to be discharged onto any public street or sidewalk any water or other fluid material containing objectionable material such as sewage, waste milk, or other organic material.

(g)

Report or defects, obstructions, deposits, and discharges. It shall be the duty of every city officer and employee who becomes aware of any defect or obstruction, or of any unlawful deposit or discharge, in or on any public street, alley, curb, sidewalk, or other public way of the city to report the same to the director of public works as soon as possible.

(h)

Private use. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to use any street, sidewalk, or other public place as space for the display of goods or merchandise for sale; or to write or make any sign or advertisement on any such pavement. This shall not be deemed to include citywide sidewalk sales or any other event which is approved by the public works director, city administrator, mayor or council.

(i)

Encroachments. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain any building or structure which encroaches upon any building or structure which encroaches upon any public street or property, or to erect any poles or wires over any public place, street, alley, or other public way, without first having secured a permit from the city administrator in the manner specified in this chapter.

(j)

Trees and shrubs.

(1)

Planting and removal. It shall be unlawful for any person to plant, remove, injure, or cut any tree, bush, or shrub in or from any public street, parkway, or other public place without first obtaining a permit therefor from the city administrator in the manner specified in this chapter.

(2)

Advertisements. It shall be unlawful for any person to attach a sign, advertisement, or notice to any tree or shrub in any public place.

(3)

Dangerous shrubs. Any shrub which overhangs any sidewalk, street, or other public place in the city in such a way as to impede or interfere with traffic or travel shall be trimmed by the owner of the premises on which such shrub grows so that the obstruction shall cease. The director of public works may cause to be trimmed or removed any and all such shrubs so that the obstruction or danger to traffic or impediment to passage shall be removed.

(4)

Poles and wires. Any person or company which maintains poles and wires in the streets, alleys, or other public places of the city shall keep such wires and poles free and away from any nearby trees or shrubs in such places, and keep all such trees and shrubs properly trimmed, subject to the supervision of the director of public works, so that no injury shall befall either the poles and wires or the shrubs and trees by their contact.

(k)

Burning of leaves and rubbish. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to burn any leaves, paper, rubbish, or other substances upon any of the public streets, sidewalks, or alleys of the city.

(Code 1985, § 8-201)