Sec. 13-263. Declaration of legislative interest

The County Council finds and determines that the continuous growth and development of the unincorporated areas of this County require the reasonable and effective control and regulation of the excessive accumulation of litter as herein defined. Further, such accumulation on improved and unimproved property readily threatens or endangers the public health, safety, or welfare by reason of the fact that such property is, or may reasonably become, infested or inhabited by rodents, vermin, or wild animals; or may reasonably cause disease; or adversely affects and impairs the economic welfare or status of adjacent property or the neighborhood; or may reasonably constitute a present or potential fire hazard; and singly, or in any combination thereof, is hereby prohibited and declared to be a public nuisance subject to the penalties and procedures hereinafter prescribed.

The County Council further finds and determines, as a matter of common knowledge, that a high growth of weeds in the populous areas has a strong tendency to produce sickness and to impair the health of the inhabitants, and may readily be a public nuisance in such localities, notwithstanding the fact that they may be comparatively innocuous in the County areas when far away from human habitation. Further, the Council recognizes that weeds, as such, when matured so as to bear wingy or downy seeds, may readily become a fire menace when dry; and that they may furnish a breeding place for mosquitoes and adversely affect and impair the economic welfare of adjacent property and the neighborhood in which located; and are hereby declared to be a public nuisance subject to the penalties and procedures hereinafter prescribed.