§ 13-4. Definitions.  


Latest version.
  • The following definitions shall be applicable to the provisions of this chapter:

    (a)

    Board means the board of appeals as provided in this chapter.

    (b)

    Boarding up means covering entirely all window, door and similar openings with a minimum of three-eighths ( 3/8 ) inch thick exterior plywood, fitted into said openings, and secured by nails, screws or other approved devices. All coverings shall be provided with a protective coat of paint or other approved weather resistant material which is consistent with the exterior color scheme of the building.

    (c)

    Building code means the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as amended.

    (d)

    City Code means the Code of Ordinances of the City of Newport News, Virginia.

    (e)

    Codes compliance administrator means the director of the department of codes compliance.

    (f)

    Corner lot means a lot abutting upon two (2) or more streets at their intersection, the shortest side fronting upon a street shall be considered the front of the lot, and the longest side fronting upon a street shall be considered the side of the lot.

    (g)

    Decorative fence means a fence that is designed as an ornament, embellishment or decoration to the property although it may incidentally provide some measure of privacy or security, such as split rail and wrought iron fences.

    (h)

    Director means the director of the department of codes compliance as well as city employees, agents and other assignees who assist the director to in performing the duties and authority assigned and delegated to the department of codes compliance.

    (i)

    Fence means a physical structure commonly attached to the ground or a building which is made of wood, rock, metal, or other natural or synthetic material, and which is intended to delineate a boundary line, property line, access line or other desired demarcation, or to provide a decorative effect to the property.

    (j)

    Front yard means open land area extending across the full width of a lot and lying between the front lot line and the principle structure(s).

    (k)

    Inoperative motor vehicle means any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition; or that does not display valid license plates; or which does not display an inspection decal which is valid or does display an inspection decal that has been expired for more than sixty (60) days.

    (l)

    Inoperative trailer or semitrailer means any trailer or semitrailer which is not in operating condition; or that does not display valid license plates; or which does not display an inspection decal which is valid or does display an inspection decal that has been expired for more than sixty (60) days.

    (m)

    Motor vehicle means every vehicle which is self-propelled or designed for self-propulsion except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Any structure designed, used, or maintained primarily to be loaded on or affixed to a motor vehicle to provide a mobile dwelling, sleeping place, office, or commercial space shall be considered a part of a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this title, any device herein defined as a bicycle or a moped shall be deemed not to be a motor vehicle.

    (n)

    Owner means the holder of title in fee simple; and/or any person, group of persons, company, association or corporation in whose name tax bills on the property are submitted. It shall also mean any person who alone or jointly or severally with others:

    (1)

    Shall have legal title to any building or building unit with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; and

    (2)

    Shall have charge, care or control of any building or building unit as owner, executor, executrix, administrator, trustee, guardian of the estate of the owners, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, lessee, or other person, firm or corporation in control of a building; or their duly authorized agents.

    Any such person, group of persons, company, association or corporation or entity shall have joint and several responsibility from compliance with the provisions of this article.

    (o)

    Person means, without limitation, person, firm, partnership, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, or entity and any other term that denotes a human being or legal entity.

    (p)

    Person responsible for real property means an owner, tenant, lessee, or any other person exercising dominion, management or control of real property in Newport News, Virginia.

    (q)

    Rear yard means open land area extending across the full width of the lot and lying between the rear lot line and the principal structure.

    (r)

    Required yard means the open land area between the minimum setback lines required in a zoning district and the lot lines.

    (s)

    Secure against unauthorized entry means secured in such a manner as to exclude unauthorized entry by humans, animals or birds.

    (t)

    Security fence means a fence that is primarily designed and is intended to provide privacy or security regardless of its decorative effect. Such security fences normally cause a parcel of land to be so enclosed as to result in the prohibition of free ingress and egress, or the shielding of a parcel from view from outside the security fence, and include but are not limited to barbed wire fences, metal fences generally known as "chain link fences" and wooden fences generally known as "stockade fences."

    (u)

    Semitrailer means every vehicle of the trailer type so designed and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that some part of its own weight and that of its own load rests on or is carried by another vehicle.

    (v)

    Side yard means open land area between the side lot line and the principal structure(s) and extending from the front yard to the rear yard.

    (w)

    Street shall be deemed to include private as well as public rights-of-way.

    (x)

    Trailer means every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property or passengers wholly on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, including mobile homes.

    (y)

    Vacant or unoccupied building means any building or structure which is not occupied, used or inhabited on a regular and continuing basis by some person with a valid claim of right to possession or a fee simple title. The intrusion of trespassers or squatters into such buildings on any basis shall not render such building occupied or nonvacant within the meaning of this chapter.

    (z)

    Vehicle means every device in, on or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. For the purposes of this chapter, bicycles, mopeds, motorized scooters and electric power-assisted bicycles shall not be considered vehicles.

    (aa)

    Weeds means any grass or plants out of place, wild or uncontrolled growth or vegetation of every kind on any land, alley, sidewalk or street in the city, whether growing or severed from the land, of such height or of such profusion as to constitute or which is likely to constitute a harborage for rats, a place where mosquitoes or other harmful pests or insect infestations may breed or water may stagnate or which conceals or is likely to conceal deposits of garbage, trash or debris.

    (Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5876-02; Ord. No. 5975-03, § 1; Ord. No. 6039-04, § 1; Ord. No. 6849-12, § 1)

(Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5876-02; Ord. No. 5975-03, § 1; Ord. No. 6039-04, § 1; Ord. No. 6849-12, § 1)