The following provisions of this section shall govern the minimum conditions
for maintenance of exterior property, premises and structures:
A.
Every foundation, roof and exterior wall, door, skylight
and window shall be weathertight and shall be kept in sound condition and
good repair. Floors, interior walls and ceilings shall be sound and in good
repair. All exterior wood surfaces, other than decay-resistant woods, shall
be protected from the elements and decay by paint or other protective covering
or treatment, using nontoxic materials where the surface is readily accessible
to children. Walls shall be capable of affording privacy for the occupants.
B.
All yards and land area shall be graded, stabilized with
grass and drained to be free of stagnant water and maintained to prevent erosion.
Yards shall be maintained to be free of rubbish and garbage.
C.
Driveways shall be graded and stabilized with material,
not limited to, concrete, black top paving, crush and run or other types of
stones to prevent erosion and standing water.
A.
Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility
which is required under this Code shall be so constructed or installed to
function safely and efficiently and shall be maintained in good working condition.
B.
Ceilings, walls and floors shall be maintained free of
holes, large cracks or loose and deteriorated materials. These parts shall
not be permitted to become defective to constitute a hazard to the occupants
or a harborage for insects or vermin. Loose or defective sections shall be
removed and replaced. The joint between the repaired and the sound material
is to be made flush, smooth and surface coated.
C.
Lead-based paint with lead content of more than 5/10
of 1% shall not be applied to any interior or exterior surface of a dwelling,
dwelling unit or child-care facility, including fences and outbuildings at
these locations. Existing interior and exterior painted surfaces of dwelling
units and child-care facilities in excess of 5/10 of 1% lead shall be removed
in accordance with State of Maryland law.
D.
All cellars, basements and crawl spaces shall be maintained
reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions conducive to decay or
deterioration of the structure.
A.
Every door shall fit within its frame to be capable of
being opened and closed by being properly and securely attached to jambs,
headers or tracks.
B.
Every door shall be provided with proper hardware, securely
attached and maintained in good condition. Hasp lock assemblies are not permitted
on doors unless used for storage only.
Every dwelling requiring a kitchen unit shall have a room or portion
of a room in which food may be prepared or cooked, which shall have adequate
circulation area and which shall be equipped with the following:
A.
A kitchen sink in working condition and properly connected
to a water supply system which is in accordance with the Wicomico County Plumbing
Code and which provides at all times an adequate amount of heated and unheated
running water under pressure and is connected to a sewer system.
B.
Devices for heating and/or cooking food or beverages
are not required. However, if provided, they shall be functional and safely
operable, free of food or grease deposits and located in such a manner as
to be safe and sanitary. Such devices include, but are not limited to, ranges,
stoves, ovens, microwave ovens, hot plates, toasters and frying pans. Adjacent
counter, wall and ceiling surfaces shall be maintained free of food and grease
accumulations. Electrical cords shall be undamaged, safe and of adequate wire
sizing and length to be utilized without extension cords. All gas devices
shall be installed to minimize vibration or damage to piping and connections.
C.
Cooking devices utilizing gasoline, oil, kerosene or
alcohol in liquid form are prohibited, except for residential-type food trays
which are heated by candle, solid fuel or alcohol lamp. Under no circumstances
shall gas cooking ranges or ovens be used as a source of heat for the kitchen
or other areas.
D.
Devices for cooling food are not required. However, if
provided, they shall be functional, operable and capable of maintaining temperatures
below 45° F. All devices shall be maintained free of an accumulation of
spilled/spoiled foodstuffs or beverages.
E.
Existing hoods and ducts over kitchen ranges shall be
maintained free of excessive accumulation of grease. Hoods that are exhausted
to the outside air shall be equipped with a reasonably movable, weathertight
cap.
F.
Each kitchen shall have a minimum of five linear feet
of countertop with base cabinetry for food preparation and foodstuff storage
and a minimum of 10 cubic feet of wall cabinetry for storage of foodstuffs,
and/or crockery ware. Freestanding cabinetry meeting these minimum requirements
will be acceptable.
