A. 
It shall be a violation of this section to own a building which does not comply with the requirements of this section:
1. 
Interior surfaces. Interior surfaces, including walls, windows and doors, shall be maintained in good, clean and sanitary condition. Peeling, chipping, flaking or abraded paint shall be repaired, removed or covered. Cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood, and other defective surface conditions shall be corrected. Every interior wall or partition shall be capable of affording privacy, be structurally sound, and be kept in good, clean and sanitary condition.
2. 
Stairs and walking surfaces. Every interior stair, ramp, landing, or other walking surface shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair.
a. 
Any flight of stairs having more than three risers shall be provided with at least one handrail for the full length of the flight.
b. 
Guards shall be provided on all open sides of stairs consisting of more than three risers and on all open sides of areas that are elevated more than 24 inches above the floor or exterior grade.
3. 
Handrails and guards. Every handrail and guard shall be firmly fastened and capable of supporting normally imposed loads and shall be maintained in good condition.
4. 
Interior doors. Every interior door shall fit reasonably well within its frame and shall be capable of being opened and closed by being properly and securely attached to jambs, headers or tracks as intended by the manufacturer of the attachment hardware.
5. 
Exits. A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel shall be provided from any point in a building or structure to the public way. Exits shall be provided to meet requirements of local and state building codes.
a. 
Any flight of stairs having more than three risers shall be provided with at least one handrail for the full length of the flight.
b. 
Guards shall be provided on all open sides of stairs consisting of more than three risers and on all open sides of areas that are elevated more than 24 inches above the floor or exterior grade.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this section to own a building which does not comply with the requirements of this section.
1. 
General. All structures shall be maintained in good repair and shall be structurally sound and sanitary so as not to pose a threat to the public health, safety or welfare.
2. 
Protective treatment. Exterior surfaces, including, but not limited to, siding, doors, door and window frames, cornices, porches, trim, balconies, decks and fences, shall be maintained in good condition. Exterior wood surfaces, other than decay-resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and decay by painting or other protective covering or treatment. Peeling, flaking and chipped paint shall be eliminated and surfaces repainted. Siding and masonry joints, as well as those between the building envelope and the perimeter of windows, doors and skylights, shall be maintained weather-resistant and watertight. Metal surfaces subject to rust or corrosion shall be coated to inhibit such rust and corrosion, and surfaces with rust or corrosion shall be stabilized and coated to inhibit future rust and corrosion. Oxidation stains shall be removed from exterior surfaces. Surfaces designed for stabilization by oxidation are exempt from this requirement. Use of moisture barriers and insulation materials as a method of permanent protective treatment is prohibited and shall be allowed for no more than 30 days unless an extension is authorized by the Inspection Department.
3. 
Premises identification. Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall not be less than three inches in height with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch.
4. 
Foundation walls. Foundation walls shall be free from holes, breaks, and loose or rotting materials; and maintained weatherproof and properly surface coated where required to prevent deterioration.
5. 
Roofs and drainage. The roof and flashing shall be sound, tight and not have defects that might admit rain. Roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent dampness or deterioration in the walls or interior portion of the structure. Roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstructions. Roof water shall not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance.
6. 
Chimneys. Every chimney, cooling tower, smokestack and similar appurtenances shall be adequately supported, reasonably clean, protected from deterioration and maintained in good condition.
7. 
Stairways, decks, porches and balconies. Every exterior stairway, ramp, deck, porch and balcony, and all appurtenances attached thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, in good repair, with proper anchorage and capable of supporting the imposed loads.
a. 
Any flight of stairs having more than three risers shall be provided with at least one handrail for the full length of the flight.
b. 
Guards shall be provided on all open sides of stairs consisting of more than three risers and on all open sides of areas that are elevated more than 24 inches above the floor or exterior grade.
8. 
Handrails and guards. Every handrail and guard shall be firmly fastened and capable of supporting normally imposed loads and shall be maintained in good condition.
9. 
Windows and skylights. Every window and skylight shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodent-proof and shall be kept in reasonably good working condition. Every window, other than a fixed window, shall be easily openable and capable of being held in position by window hardware. Windows located in whole or in part within six feet above ground level or a walking surface below that provide access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit, or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a window sash locking device. Every openable window and storm door shall be supplied with adequate sixteen-gauge screens to prevent entry of pests. Glazing materials shall be maintained free from cracks and holes. Every dwelling having a bedroom in the basement shall have at least one window which meets the requirements of §§ SPS 321.03(6) and SPS 321.05(1) and (2), Wis. Adm. Code.
10. 
Doors and door assemblies. Exterior doors, door assemblies, operator systems, if provided, and hardware shall be maintained in good condition. Locks at all entrances to dwelling units and sleeping units shall tightly secure the door. Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit, or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased, or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock through of one inch. Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to manufacturer's specifications and maintained in good working order. For purposes of this section, a sliding bolt shall not be considered an acceptable deadbolt lock.
11. 
Basement hatchways. Basement hatchways that provide access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with devices that secure the units from unauthorized entry.
12. 
Accessory structures. Accessory structures, including detached garages, fences and walls, storage sheds, kennels, playhouses, tree houses, and similar structures shall be structurally sound, clean, sanitary, and maintained in good repair.
A. 
Owners of buildings containing two or more dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the building and premises.
B. 
Occupants of dwellings or dwelling units shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the building and premises which they occupy and control.
C. 
Occupants of dwellings or dwelling units shall be responsible for hanging all screens and double or storm doors and storm windows whenever the same are required under the provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, except where the owner has agreed to supply such service.
D. 
Occupants of dwellings containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents or other pests. The occupants of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever their dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of the subsection, whenever infestation is caused by the failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
E. 
Occupants of dwelling units shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein clean and sanitary and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in their use and operation.
F. 
Every owner of any dwelling containing three or more dwelling units shall appoint, in the manner and form the Inspection Department prescribes, as agent, a person who is 18 years of age or over and resident of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, and shall vest in the agent full authority and control of the building and premises, described in the appointment document and of the conduct of all business on the premises relative to any and all regulations contained in this code. The name, address and phone number of said agent shall be posted in the dwelling in a conspicuous place. Such appointment shall be made annually on or before January 1 of each year.