Sheryl Reynolds
Community Codes Liaison
Phone: 515-239-5154
Email: Sheryl.reynolds@cityofames.org

The Community Codes Liaison works with citizens to explain City Codes and works to resolve concerns by coordinating enforcement with other City Departments.

In 2023, the Ames City Council adopted a Public Nuisance Ordinance (Chapter 30) with an effective date of January 1, 2024. The following includes some of the most common conditions that constitute a public nuisance under the new ordinance:  

Vegetation:

• Grass – Turf grasses exceeding 12 inches in height (Sec.30.5(11))

• Weeds – Noxious weeds (as defined in the Iowa Code here) or any other plant deemed hazardous to persons or property by the City (Sec 30.5(13))

• Dangerous Trees - Trees in such a state of deterioration, as determined by the City, that any part of such tree presents an immediate threat to the safety of persons or property (Sec. 30.5(12))

Right-of-Way:

• Visibility Triangle Encroachment - Obstructions in the visibility triangle not in compliance with Ames Municipal Code Sec. 29.408(5) Visibility at Intersections (Sec. 30.5(23))

• Debris on Sidewalk - Snow, ice, mud, gravel, grass clippings, leaves or other accumulations remaining on a sidewalk longer than 10 daylight hours after the cessation of the storm or cause of the accumulation (Sec.30.5(6))

• Low Limbs – Vegetation located on private property hanging over public streets with less than 16 feet of clearance above the public street or vegetation located on private property that hangs over or into public sidewalks with less than 8 feet of clearance above the sidewalk. (Sec. 30.5(9))

• Vegetation in ROW - Vegetation located in the City right-of-way exceeding 12 inches in height within one foot of the traveled portion of the street. Streets designated as no parking may have vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height within one foot of the traveled portion of the street. Plantings that cause safety issues would be subject to removal, regardless of height, at the City’s discretion. Non-vegetative materials such as trellises or chicken wire are prohibited in the right-of-way. Exceptions: those areas approved by the City as stormwater or native vegetation preservation areas. (Sec. 30.5(8))

• Signs – The obstructing or encumbering, by fences, buildings, structures, signs or otherwise, of the public streets and rights-of-ways. (Sec. 30.5(5))

Garbage:

• Yard Waste – Yard Waste stored on the exterior of a property in anything other than a trash disposal container or branches which could be broken down and bundled for longer than seven days. Yard waste may be retained for longer than seven days if composting is being completed. Composting shall comply with the state regulations contained in Chapter 105 of the Iowa Administrative Code. (Sec. 30.5(3))

(a) Composting piles may include: yard waste including leaves, grass clippings, straw and hay, sawdust, and finely chopped shredded tree and shrub prunings; kitchen scraps including fruit and vegetable trimmings(including rhubarb leaves), coffee grounds, and eggshells; shredded newspapers; wood ashes (no more than one cup per bushel of compost).

 (b) Composting piles cannot include: human or animal feces; diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed; kitchen scraps that include animal meat, bones or fat; and all other materials not listed in subsection (a) above.

• Containers - Refuse, garbage, or junk that is not contained in a trash disposal container; noxious substances; or hazardous wastes remaining in any outdoor place for more than 72 hours (Sec. 30.5(2))

• Garbage Receptacle RENTAL PROPERTIES ONLY – Every occupant of a structure shall dispose of refuse, garbage, and other organic waste in a clean and sanitary manner, by placing it in disposal facilities or storage containers, and by re-closing or replacing container lids. It is the occupant’s responsibility to move containers to and from the curb when curbside service is contracted, within 24 hours. Occupants are required to make special arrangements to have removed within 48 hours any items which will not be picked up by regular contracted service. (Sec. 13.410(2)

Storage:

• Junk Vehicle – Junked vehicles stored outdoors on private property for more than 48 hours. (Sec. 30.5(21))
  • Exceptions:
    1. Junked vehicles stored within a garage or other enclosed structure
    2. One (1) junked vehicle per property may be stored outdoors for no more than 30 days cumulative per vehicle per calendar year in compliance with Ames Municipal Code Section 29.304(3) Prohibited Uses when concealed and enclosed behind an opaque wall at least six feet in height, or completely covered by a tight-fitting opaque cloth vehicle cover or tight-fitting cloth tarpaulin.
    3. Junked vehicles stored upon the premises of a duly authorized salvage yard or junk yard and meeting the requirements of the Ames Municipal Code.
• Furniture/Appliances – Upholstered or finished furniture intended for indoor usage such as couches, beds, mattresses, desks, chairs, shelving or wooden tables, other household furnishings or equipment including carpeting, appliances and other typical household items intended for indoor usage, placed or used outdoors (Sec. 30.5(15))

• RV/Trailer/Boat – Travel trailers, recreational vehicles, boats, or boat trailers not in compliance with Ames Municipal Code Section 29.304(3) Prohibited Uses or Section 29.406(5) Use of Required Spaces (Sec. 30.5(22)).
  • Sec. 29.304(3) Prohibited Uses

    (a) Uses Prohibited in All Zones. The following uses of land and buildings are prohibited in all zones whether on public or private land:

    (ii) The use of recreational vehicles, semitrailers, trailers, commercial vehicles, manufactured homes, or mobile homes for human habitation or any accessory use, except incidental to construction ongoing on a site or emergency shelter for up to 30 days by persons whose dwelling has been made uninhabitable by fire or other casualty, or as permitted in the Residential Low Density Park (RLP) Zone or on the permitted permanent site of a manufactured home;

    (iii) Outside storage including junked vehicles, commercial vehicles, equipment, recreational vehicles, mobile homes, trailers, and semitrailers unless otherwise permitted in the individual Zone Development Standards Tables or incidental to construction ongoing on a site. Except:

    (1) One (1) junked vehicle shall be permitted to be stored per property for up to 30 days outdoors cumulative per vehicle per calendar year accessory to a residential use. Storage of a junked vehicle is subject to all parking area and driveway standards of 29.406.

    (2) One (1) unoccupied recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer is permitted to be stored in the rear yard or wholly in the side yard of the lot accessory to a residential use. Storage of an unoccupied recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer is subject to all parking area and driveway standards of 29.406.

• Sec. 29.406(5) Use of Required Spaces

  (5) Use of Required Parking Spaces. Required parking spaces must be maintained for the duration of the use requiring the spaces. Required spaces shall be used exclusively for the temporary parking of passenger motor vehicles or light (non-commercial) trucks and must be available for the use of residents, customers, and employees of the use requiring the parking spaces. Fees may be charged for the use of required parking spaces. Required parking spaces for one site may not be assigned in any way to a use on another site unless such assignment is made under and approved Joint Use Parking Plan, the requirements for which are set forth in Section 29.406(17). Parking of recreational vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, commercial vehicles, equipment, junked vehicles, or mobile homes or storage or display of goods in required parking spaces is not permitted, except:

  (a) One (1) unoccupied recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer is permitted to be parked in a required parking space in compliance with surface material and other applicable standards of Ames Municipal Code Section 29.406 in a residential district or unless otherwise permitting in the individual Zone Development Standards Tables; or

  (b) Those incidental to construction ongoing on a site