Henderson, Nev., Mun. Code § 15.12 (2026) § 15.12.030

A. Application. The provisions of this section apply to all land in the limits of the City of Henderson, whether improved or unimproved, and all residential and nonresidential buildings and structures.
B. Exterior property maintenance standards. All land including exterior premises and vacant land, whether improved or unimproved, and exterior areas under any roof not enclosed by the walls, doors, or windows of any building shall be maintained free from the following:
1. Any accumulation of garbage, debris, rubble, litter, rubbish, refuse, or other waste material, or blight, to include, but not limited to: graffiti on walls, buildings, structures, fences, and mail boxes; bottles; paper; tires; vehicle parts; broken glass; cans; organic or inorganic material; including exterior areas under any roof not enclosed by the walls, doors, or windows of any building that also contains items such as cans, bottles, wood, metal, plastic, rags, tires, auto parts, lumber, covering (carpet, pads, vinyl), scrap iron, tin, similar materials or other metal not neatly stacked, or anything that becomes a hazard to the public health and safety or harbors insect, rodent, or vermin infestation;
2. The exterior visible use or display of tarps, plastic sheeting, or other similar materials as flexible or inflexible screening, fencing, or wall covering, unless part of a manufactured screen or fence assembly;
3. Abandoned or inoperable vehicle(s), or part(s) thereof, that are not concealed from ordinary public view by means of inside storage, permissible fencing, or other permissible means, subject to the following limitations and exceptions:
a. No property may have more than two abandoned or inoperable vehicles concealed from ordinary public view in the manner required herein in paragraph 3, unless such vehicles are contained in a garage or other fully enclosed structure;
b. A single inoperable vehicle on any property that is registered to a resident of the property and undergoing minor repair work as defined herein need not be concealed for the period of minor repair work if the period does not exceed 72 hours;
c. Lawful commercial activities involving vehicles are permitted without being concealed as allowed by the zoning applicable to the property;
4. Any operable vehicle parked in any portion of the front or side yard of a single-family dwelling or accessory building, unless all aspects of the parking of such vehicle meet the requirements of the Henderson Development Code for parking such vehicles in front and side yards, including but not limited to the requirement to park vehicles on a paved concrete or asphalt surface (or similar paved surface), and the requirement that no more than one additional parking space be installed in such area;
5. Any machinery or equipment, including but not limited to forklifts, backhoes, tractors, or similar types of construction or commercial vehicles originally intended, designed or manufactured for commercial or industrial uses, or similar types of construction or commercial equipment. This paragraph shall not prohibit equipment used for personal residential gardening, personal property maintenance purposes, or active construction sites, or where otherwise permitted by the Development Code;
6. Any abandoned, unattended, discarded, broken or inoperable commercial or industrial equipment, appliances, machinery, freezers, refrigerators or other household items, equipment, furnishings, or any container, appliance or equipment that has an airtight door or lid, snap lock, or other locking device that may not be released from the inside, without first removing such door or lid, snap lock, or other locking device;
7. Any object, including but not limited to a sign, tree, or bush on private property that interferes with, obstructs, partially obstructs, or renders dangerous the free passage, use, or vision in the customary manner of any sidewalk, street, alley, highway, or traffic light or sign in the city;
8. Any landscaping, including but not limited to any tree, plant, shrub, or ground-cover visible from any street, alley, or sidewalk that is substantially dead, damaged, or characterized by uncontrolled growth, or presents a deteriorated appearance; uncultivated plants, weeds, tall grass, tumbleweeds, uncultivated shrubs or growth (whether growing or otherwise) higher than six inches; or any dead trees (including any palm or similar type of tree) and branches, bushes, shrubs, or portions thereof that may become a fire hazard, or result in a condition which threatens the health and safety of adjacent property owners or occupants;
9. Discarded or broken furniture;
10. Discarded or broken bicycles, bicycle parts, and toys;
11. Piles of mixed materials, dry vegetation, or rags; empty barrels, drums, boxes, crates, packing cases, and any similar materials;
12. Mattresses, bedding, and any similar materials;
13. Excelsior, packing straw, packing hay or other packing material;
14. Anything whatsoever that is or may become an imminent hazard or which may otherwise create a fire hazard;
15. Any unguarded and unprotected or abandoned excavation of more than two feet in depth on any unenclosed lot that may constitute a threat or public hazard;
16. Any wall or fence that is missing blocks, boards, or other material, or is otherwise deteriorated so as to constitute a hazard to persons or property;
17. Graffiti that is capable of being viewed by a person using any public area or right-of-way in the city;
18. Any temporary sign, banner, flag, inflatable advertisement, or tethered balloon that has not received required approvals or permits pursuant to the Development Code;
19. Animals kept on any premises not in compliance with the Development Code or HMC Title 7 ;
20. Recreational vehicles used as living quarters on premises other than a licensed and permitted RV park or resort; and
21. Any public nuisance or nuisance activity as defined in this chapter.
These general exterior property maintenance standards shall not be deemed to prohibit: items kept in covered bins or metal receptacles approved by any other ordinance of the city; automobile wrecking yards or any other junkyard lawfully established pursuant to the city zoning regulations; any neatly stored materials used in the development of property; and any items stored or kept in enclosed trailers or vehicles.
These general exterior property maintenance standards shall not apply to prohibit the neat and orderly storage of non-hazardous materials in the side and rear yards provided such storage does not exceed ten percent of the area of the side or rear yard in which the material is stored and further provided such storage does not exceed the height of any fence or wall enclosing such yards, and is not visible from the exterior of the property.
C. Exterior insect and rodent control. All premises shall be kept free from infestation. This provision shall not require action to disturb the natural activity of bees where such activity is not a danger or nuisance to any resident or residents of the area and where other legal requirements applicable to that activity have been met. Where infestation has taken place, the owner shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests when such extermination is not specifically made the responsibility of the occupant by law or by orders issued under this Code.
D. Drainage. All premises shall be maintained so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
E. Fences, screen walls, perimeter walls and retaining walls. All fences, screen walls, perimeter walls and retaining walls visible from any street or sidewalk shall be safe, structurally sound, and uniform in color, structure and design, and shall be maintained so that they do not constitute a hazard, blight, or condition of disrepair. Examples of hazards, blight, or conditions of disrepair include but are not limited to: leaning fences, leaning walls, fences that are missing slats or blocks, graffiti, peeling paint, paint or wall signage not in compliance with the requirements of the Development Code, deterioration of surface finish, walls or fences constructed without required permits, rotting, or damaged components.
Perimeter walls, including those in existence at the time of adoption of this Code, shall be properly maintained. Repair or replacement of an existing perimeter wall or portions thereof shall be made with the same or similar materials as the existing wall unless design review approval of different materials or a different design has been obtained from the community development and services department.
A perimeter wall may not be permanently removed unless approved by the building official and the director or his or her designee.
F. Waste disposal requirements. All premises shall comply with the applicable provisions of HMC 5.17 with regard to the disposal of garbage, rubbish, litter, rubble, refuse, debris and/or any other waste material, and the use, maintenance and storage of waste containers.
G. Maintenance of swimming and architectural pools and ponds. All swimming and architectural pools and spas (hot tubs) and fountains shall be properly maintained so as not to create a health or safety hazard or harbor infestation. Water shall not be allowed to stagnate. Fencing or other barriers required for swimming pool and spa enclosures shall be properly maintained as specified in the Southern Nevada Pool Code in effect at the time of pool construction. The premises shall be free from safety hazards inclusive of, but not limited to lack of security, water stagnation, or abandoned pools, regardless of whether or not there is water in the pools and ponds.
H. Dumping. Vacant lots or lands that have been subject to enforcement action regarding dumping on more than one occasion shall be secured to prevent future occurrences of dumping. Methods of securing vacant lots or lands may include the following: fencing; placing four-foot high posts at four feet intervals; or other equally effective methods. Where methods of securing vacant lots or lands by other than fencing are utilized, signs with the words "no dumping" shall be erected in accordance with applicable laws on vacant lots or lands that have been subject to dumping on more than one occasion.
I. Open excavations. Unenclosed, unsecured or dangerous excavations must be fully restored to a safe, serviceable condition, or filled with clean fill or other material approved by the building official. Excavations shall be maintained in a secure manner to prevent a hazard to public health and safety. An excavation is considered secure when:
1. An excavation more than two feet in depth is protected by a permanent and complete five-foot minimum height enclosure that surrounds the excavation or property; or
2. A well, pit, abandoned swimming pool, or similar excavation is covered, securely fenced, or otherwise protected in an equivalent manner.
J. Vacant buildings, structures, and premises. The property owner, or other responsible party, shall actively maintain all buildings, structures, and premises, including vacant buildings. Vacant buildings, structures, and premises shall meet the requirements of this section.
1. Active maintenance shall include:
a. Maintenance of landscaping and plant materials in good condition, free of weeds, and otherwise in conformance with the requirements of this Code;
b. Maintenance of the exterior of the building, including but not limited to paint and finishes, as specified in this Code;
c. Regular removal of all exterior refuse, debris, garbage, litter, rubbish or other waste and graffiti;
d. Maintenance of the building in continuing compliance with all applicable codes and regulations, including but not limited to maintenance of a secure exterior with functioning locks on all windows and doors;
e. Prevention of reoccurring criminal activity on the premises; and
f. Regular monitoring of the premises.
2. Vacant buildings, structures, and premises that are not maintained in accordance with the requirements of this section are subject to an order by the code official requiring that they be completely secured in the following manner:
a. All gas and electrical utility services may be required to be disconnected within ten days upon notice and order;
b. Doorways, crawl spaces, windows, and openings are to be completely boarded by use of five-eighths inch or thicker exterior grade plywood, fastened by tamper-proof screws and one-way bolts to the frame or a cross brace, as identified in Appendix A of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC);
c. All boarding shall be painted to match the dominant exterior color of the elevation of the building or structure on which the barricade is placed. The dominant exterior color shall be that color that occupies at least 60 percent of the particular elevation; and
d. For commercial buildings, opaque window coverings may be allowed by the director in lieu of boarding provided all windows are maintained and if broken or cracked, are replaced within 48 hours. The code official may revoke approval of the use of the alternative when the owner or responsible party fails to maintain the windows or replace cracked or broken windows within the specified 48-hour time frame.
Any order issued pursuant to this section shall follow the enforcement procedures of section 15.12.060.B.5.g.