A. 
Basic equipment and facilities. Every unoccupied building must comply with the following minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities:
(1) 
Plumbing. All plumbing fixtures shall be properly installed and be in sound condition and good repair.
(2) 
Electricity. Every existing outlet and fixture shall be properly connected. Wiring and service lines shall be maintained in good and safe working condition.
(3) 
Heating plant. The heating plant shall be maintained in a safe condition.
(4) 
Cooking equipment. All cooking equipment shall be maintained in a safe condition.
B. 
Safety from fire. All owners or unoccupied buildings shall comply with the applicable provisions of the New York Fire Code and the following additional standards for safety from fire:
(1) 
No unoccupied building shall contain any space utilized for the storage of flammable liquids.
(2) 
No room within any unoccupied building shall be used for storage or junk, rubbish or wastes, furniture or building materials not intended to be used in the existing building.
(3) 
The early detection and containment of fire being a valid City concern, the boarding up of doors and windows shall not be permitted except with the permission of the public officer in emergency situations. When doors and windows are boarded up, they shall be covered with no less than one-half-inch exterior plywood or equivalent, which shall be the same color as the building exterior. In no case shall boarding up of doors and windows be permitted in excess of 90 days without a waiver from the Mayor and Council or designee.
(4) 
All windows within 20 feet of the ground or which may be readily accessible shall be secured with security screens, bars and/or grilles, and the security screens, bars and/or grilles on open windows shall include quick-release mechanisms, both of which shall be subject to the approval of the public officer.
C. 
Safe and sanitary maintenance. All occupied or unoccupied buildings shall comply with the following minimum standards for safe and sanitary maintenance:
(1) 
Every foundation, exterior wall or exterior roof shall be weathertight, watertight and rodent-proof, shall be kept in sound condition and good repair and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(2) 
Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be rodent-proof, shall be kept in sound condition and good repair and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(3) 
Every window, exterior door and basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be weathertight, watertight, rodent-proof and locked and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(4) 
Every inside and outside stair, porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(5) 
Every yard shall be properly graded so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
(6) 
Every dwelling's cellar, basement and crawl space shall be maintained reasonably free from dampness.
(7) 
The exterior of every structure or accessory structure shall be maintained free of broken windows, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick or excess peeling paint.
(8) 
The exterior of the premises and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereof shall reflect a level of maintenance which shall not lead to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values.
D. 
Further responsibilities of owners. All owners of unoccupied buildings shall be required to comply with the following standards:
(1) 
Any yard area (front, side and rear) adjacent to an unoccupied building shall be cleared and maintained free of trash, solid debris or any other materials that cause litter to accumulate to unhealthy and blighting proportions.
(2) 
Grass, weeds or vegetation shall not be permitted to grow or remain on the side, front and/or rear yards of any unoccupied or unoccupied building so as to exceed a height of six inches.
(3) 
Unoccupied buildings shall not be utilized for storage of any materials, whether solid or liquid, including the yard portion of that building.
(4) 
When an unoccupied dwelling is infested with rats, termites, roaches and/or any other insects and vermin, the owner shall undertake an expedient means of extermination of such nuisances.
(5) 
All doors and/or lids on appliances, furniture utilized for storage or on heating furnaces shall be locked in order to deny entry to an individual(s) where the potential for physical harm or death may result should said door close and prevent the individual's escape.
E. 
The standards and requirements of this section shall apply as long as any dwelling remains unoccupied. Upon occupancy, the other appropriate sections of this chapter shall prevail.