Rio Rancho Municipal Code Chapter 91 prohibits blighted and deteriorating property conditions. Exterior surfaces, fences, and walls must be maintained, and accumulations of debris, graffiti, and disrepair are prohibited as public nuisances subject to code enforcement.
The Property Maintenance subchapter of Rio Rancho Municipal Code Chapter 91 (Nuisances; Health and Sanitation) sets minimum standards governing the maintenance, appearance, and condition of all residential and non-residential premises to protect property from blighting and deteriorating conditions. Section 91.02 defines "blight" or "blighted" as unsightly conditions including the accumulation of debris; fences characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling or rusting; dead landscaping or uncontrolled growth; and other similar conditions of disrepair and deterioration. Section 91.03 requires that exterior surfaces be free of deterioration that threatens health and safety or presents a blighted appearance, and specifically cites stucco or paint that is peeling, flaking, cracked, blistering, or mildewed over more than 30% of the exterior, plus window screening not maintained in good condition. Structures must be safe and structurally sound, with leaning fences, missing slats or blocks, graffiti, peeling paint, and rotting materials all named as prohibited conditions of disrepair. Under Section 91.09, the City Development Director, designees, and code enforcement officers enforce the subchapter. A notice of violation is a warning allowing a reasonable abatement period of not more than 15 days; failure to abate results in a citation to municipal court. The general penalty (Section 10.99) is up to a $500 fine.
Peeling, flaking, or cracked paint or stucco over more than 30% of a building exterior; leaning fences, fences missing numerous slats or blocks, graffiti, rotting or damaged materials, and deteriorated screening are all violations enforced as blight under Section 91.03.
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