Various laws are directed towards the conduct of persons on private property, and are intended to ensure that neither the conduct of such persons, nor the physical condition of such properties, constitutes a nuisance to other residents in the vicinity of the properties or passersby on the public rights-of-way. These laws are generally enforced against the persons immediately responsible for the violations. Notwithstanding these enforcement efforts, recurring violations of such laws on private property where individuals immediately responsible for such violations congregate can result in the creation of public nuisances which seriously threaten the peace and safety of neighboring residents and undermine the quality of life of the residents of the city. The purposes of this chapter are to enact a local public nuisance law in order to: make property owners where such individuals congregate vigilant in preventing public nuisances on their property; make such property owners responsible for the use of their property by tenants, guests, occupants and others on their property; provide locally enforceable remedies for violations of local public nuisance laws; and otherwise to deter public nuisances.

This chapter is not intended to be a tool for landlords and property owners to discriminate against persons or to impede the reporting of crimes, especially those involving domestic violence, and/or the reporting of injuries or illnesses. The city of Bethel does not endorse or support any form of discrimination for any reason whatsoever. Individuals who are the victims of discrimination are urged to report such discrimination to the proper state authorities. [Ord. 17-27 § 2; Ord. 02-06 § 2.]