Guide for New Residents
Falcon Heights City Ordinances
In order to ensure the safety and general well-being of our residents, the City of Falcon Heights has enacted the Municipal Code to govern the conduct of the citizens and officials of the City. The code is available for your review at City Hall. The items which follow have been selected from the code for their particular relevance to all residents of the City.
Regulation of Animals
It is unlawful for dogs to run at large. They must be controlled by a leash or chain not more than six feet in length. Dogs and cats who exhibit certain behaviors as listed in the city code are declared to be a public nuisance.
All dogs and cats older than six months must be vaccinated against rabies and the rabies vaccination tag provided by the veterinarian must be affixed to the animal’s collar.
No person may maintain a kennel within the city. Four or more of any type of domestic pets over four months old constitutes a kennel.
Falcon Heights does not require dogs or cats to be licensed.
Parking
No truck, trailer, bus, or school bus shall be parked on any highway or street within the City of Falcon Heights for more than 90 minutes, or for such additional time as is necessary to load or unload such vehicles.
No vehicle can be parked on any alley within the City except for normal pick-up and delivery of passengers or commercial goods (limit 30 minutes).
No vehicle shall be parked on any street or public grounds within the City for more than 48 consecutive hours.
It is unlawful to park vehicles on the front, side, or rear landscaped yard. During winter months, November through April, parking is allowed on the side of the street nearest to your driveway.
Additional parking restrictions are posted in some areas. Parking permits may be required.More information on parking in Falcon Heights.
Snow Removal
On street parking is prohibited during a snow removal period, beginning after at least two inches of snow has accumulated, and ending when snow plowing has been completed on each street.
No person shall park a motor vehicle on any unplowed street, or within 30 feet of either end of an unplowed street.
Property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from public sidewalks within 24 hours after an accumulation.
The shoveling or plowing of snow into streets and alleys is prohibited.
The removal of snow from alleys is the responsibility of the owners of the property which abuts the alley. Such snow removal must be completed within 24 hours after the accumulation of two or more inches of snow. Failure to comply with this ordinance shall cause the City to remove the snow, and bill the benefited owners for this service.
Nuisances
The following items have been determined to cause blight or be blighting factors, and if allowed to exist, will tend to result in undesirable neighborhoods so as to be harmful to the public welfare, health and safety:
- Inoperable vehicles, not stored in a garage, which are unusable, beyond repair, or without valid or current registration.
- In any area within the City the storage or accumulation of junk, trash, rubbish, or refuse of any kind, except refuse stored in such a manner so as not to create a public nuisance.
- In any area, the existence of any structure which because of fire, wind, or other natural disaster, or physical deterioration is no longer habitable as a dwelling nor useful for any other purpose for which is may have been intended.
- In any area zoned for residential purposes, the existence of any vacant dwelling, garage, or other out-building, unless such buildings are kept glazed or neatly boarded-up and otherwise protected to prevent entrance by vandals.
- In any area the existence of any noxious weeds or other weeds or grass growing to a height greater than six inches or which have gone or are about to go to seed are prohibited.
The following items have been determined to be public nuisances affecting public peace and safety:
- All trees, hedges, billboards, or other obstructions which prevent persons from having a clear view of traffic approaching an intersection.
- All limbs of trees which are less than eight feet above the surface of any public sidewalk or sixteen feet above the surface of any street.
- All wires which are strung or hang across public streets, alleys, or sidewalks less than fifteen feet above the surface of the ground.
- All explosive, bottled gas, inflammable liquids, or other dangerous substances stored in any manner deemed dangerous by the building inspector, fire chief, health officer, or fire inspector.
- Obstructions and excavations affecting the ordinary use by the public of streets, alleys, sidewalks, or public grounds except under such conditions as are authorized by the Council.
- Any use of property abutting on a public street or sidewalk which causes large crowds of people to gather, obstructing traffic, and the free use of the streets and sidewalks.
- All hanging signs, awnings, and other similar structures over the streets and sidewalks, so situated as to endanger public safety.
- The allowing of rainwater, ice, or snow to fall from any building or structure upon any street or sidewalk or to flow across any sidewalk, or waste water cast upon or permitted to flow upon or across streets or other public property.
- Dangerous, unguarded machinery, in any public space, or so situated operated on private property as to attract the public.
- Obstructions to the free flow of water in a natural waterway or a public street drain, gutter or ditch.
- The sweeping of grass clippings or leaves into the street.
- The service and repair of vehicles in driveways except as provided in the definition of a private garage.
Garbage and Refuse
Property owners are required to contract for garbage pick-up with a licensed hauler. (City Hall has the current list of licensed haulers.) Residential pick-up is on Fridays only.
Metal or plastic non-disposable containers are required for the storage of all refuse accumulated on the premises between collections. Such containers may be placed next to the street or curb only immediately prior to collection. Waterproof bags may be placed next to the street curb, or alley provided they do not remain there for a period longer than 24 hours prior to the time scheduled for collection.
Address Numbers for Residential and Commercial Property
To assist in identification for police and fire protection, as well as for the delivery of merchandise and identification of the general public. all residences and business and commercial properties shall have affixed to them the proper street address as designated by the City. This shall include all buildings and garages which abut alleys. The numbers and letters used to identify an address must be a minimum of four inches in height.
Business Conducted in the Home
Home based occupations are subject to residential zoning restrictions. Consult the City Zoning and Planning Coordinator for details.
Building Permits
Any type of construction, alteration, or demolition shall require a building permit for each job performed. This includes driveways and fences.
Permits shall be required for all plumbing, electrical, or mechanical construction or repair, and for all sewer connections or repairs.
All refuse haulers, drain or sewer connection cleaners, gas installers, general contractors, mechanical contractors, and tree trimming, removal, and treating firms who seek to conduct business within the City of Falcon Heights must be licensed by the City to perform such activities.
Trees, Fences, Hedges and Yards
The City Forester appointed by the City Council shall have jurisdiction and supervision over all trees, shrubs, and other plants growing in the City.
It shall be the duty of any person responsible for growing any trees on private property abutting on a public street to:
- Trim trees so as not to cause a hazard to persons on abutting public property or interfere with the proper lighting of public streets by the street lights;
- Treat or remove any tree or plant so diseased or insect-ridden as to constitute a hazard to other trees or plants in the City.
- Refrain from planting trees within five feet of any property lot line abutting a right-of-way of a public street.
- Refrain from planting any of the species prohibited by municipal regulations: Ginko ( MaidenHair Tree, female only), Chinese Elm, Boxelder (ash-leafed maple), Eastern Cottonwood, Lombardy Poplar, or Silver Maple.
Fences, hedges and driveways shall be located within proper property lines with all fences facing out (posts and rails located on inside of respective property).
Fences and hedges are subject to zoning restrictions. Consult the City for details regarding limitations in heights and placement.
Owners of property abutting any public street or alley are responsible for the sodding or planting of grass thereon, and maintaining the grassed portion of such property to the curb line or to the traveled portion of the street or alley upon which property abuts.
It shall be the duty of every owner of property abutting on any street or alley to keep the grass and weeds cut to the curb line or traveled portion of the street or alley.
False Alarms for Police and Fire Assistance
An individual who incurs more than one false security or fire alarm at an address within one calendar year is subject to a false alarm user fee.
Discharge of Firearms
Shooting of any gun, air gun, pistol, revolver, or other firearm within the corporate limits of the City is not permitted, and is a felony offense.
Parking Permits
Certain areas of Falcon Heights have permit parking restrictions. Contact City Hall to obtain information on parking restrictions, permits, and conditions.