Ohio § 505.87

§ 505.87.

(A) A board of township trustees may provide for the abatement, control, or removal of

vegetation, garbage, refuse, and other debris from land in the township, if the board

determines that the owner's maintenance of that vegetation, garbage, refuse, or other

debris constitutes a nuisance. (B) At least seven days before providing for the abatement, control, or removal of any

vegetation, garbage, refuse, or other debris, the board of township trustees shall

notify the owner of the land and any holders of liens of record upon the land that: (1) The owner is ordered to abate, control, or remove the vegetation, garbage, refuse,

or other debris, the owner's maintenance of which has been determined by the board

to be a nuisance; (2) If that vegetation, garbage, refuse, or other debris is not abated, controlled, or

removed, or if provision for its abatement, control, or removal is not made, within

seven days, the board shall provide for the abatement, control, or removal, and any

costs incurred by the board in performing that task shall be entered upon the tax

duplicate and become a lien upon the land from the date of entry. The board shall send the notice to the owner of the land by certified mail if the

owner is a resident of the township or is a nonresident whose address is known, and

by certified mail to lienholders of record;  alternatively, if the owner is a resident

of the township or is a nonresident whose address is known, the board may give notice

to the owner by causing any of its agents or employees to post the notice on the principal

structure on the land and to photograph that posted notice with a camera capable of

recording the date of the photograph on it.  If the owner's address is unknown and cannot reasonably be obtained, it is sufficient

to publish the notice once using at least one of the following methods: (a) In the print or digital edition of a newspaper of general circulation in the township; (b) On the official public notice web site established under section 125.182 of the Revised Code ; (c) On the web site and social media account of the township. (C) If a board of township trustees determines within twelve consecutive months after

a prior nuisance determination that the same owner's maintenance of vegetation, garbage,

refuse, or other debris on the same land in the township constitutes a nuisance, at

least four days before providing for the abatement, control, or removal of any vegetation,

garbage, refuse, or other debris, the board shall give notice of the subsequent nuisance

determination to the owner of the land and to any holders of liens of record upon

the land as follows: (1) The board shall send written notice by first class mail to the owner of the land

and to any lienholders of record.  Failure of delivery of the notice shall not invalidate any action to abate, control,

or remove the nuisance.  Alternatively, the board may give notice to the owner by causing any of its agents

or employees to post the notice on the principal structure on the land and to photograph

that posted notice with a camera capable of recording the date of the photograph on

it. (2) If the owner's address is unknown and cannot reasonably be obtained, it is sufficient

to post the notice on the board of township trustee's internet web site for four consecutive

days, or to post the notice in a conspicuous location in the board's office for four

consecutive days if the board does not maintain an internet web site. (D) The owner of the land or holders of liens of record upon the land may enter into

an agreement with the board of township trustees providing for either party to the

agreement to perform the abatement, control, or removal before the time the board

is required to provide for the abatement, control, or removal under division (E) of

this section. (E) If, within seven days after notice is given under division (B) of this section, or

within four days after notice is given under division (C) of this section, the owner

of the land fails to abate, control, or remove the vegetation, garbage, refuse, or

other debris, or no agreement for its abatement, control, or removal is entered into

under division (D) of this section, the board of township trustees shall provide for

the abatement, control, or removal and may employ the necessary labor, materials,

and equipment to perform the task.  All costs incurred, when approved by the board, shall be paid out of the township

general fund from moneys not otherwise appropriated, except that if the costs incurred

exceed five hundred dollars, the board may borrow moneys from a financial institution

to pay for the costs in whole or in part. (F) The board of township trustees shall make a written report to the county auditor

of the board's action under this section.  The board shall include in the report a proper description of the premises and a

statement of all costs incurred in providing for the abatement, control, or removal

of any vegetation, garbage, refuse, or other debris as provided in division (E) of

this section, including the board's charges for its services, the costs incurred in

providing notice, any fees or interest paid to borrow moneys, and the amount paid

for labor, materials, and equipment.  The county auditor shall place the costs upon the tax duplicate.  The costs are a lien upon the land from and after the date of the entry.  The costs shall be returned to the township and placed in the township's general

fund.