A.
It is hereby found and declared that there exist in
the City structures used for human habitation which are, or may become
in the future, substandard with respect to structure, equipment or
maintenance, and that such conditions, as well as inadequate provisions
for light and air, insufficient protections against fire hazards,
lack of proper heating, unsanitary conditions and overcrowding, constitute
a menace to the health, safety, welfare and reasonable comfort of
the citizens of the City. It is further found and declared that, in
the absence of corrective measures, such structures and areas in which
they are located will experience a deterioration of property values,
a curtailment of investment and tax revenue and an impairment of community
economic values. The establishment and maintenance of minimum housing
standards is essential to the prevention of blight and decay and to
the safeguarding of public health, safety and welfare.
B.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide basic and
uniform standards, in terms of performance objectives implemented
by specific requirements, governing the condition, occupancy and maintenance
of residential premises, and to establish reasonable safeguards for
the health, safety and welfare of the occupants thereof. This chapter
is hereby declared to be remedial and essential to the public interest.
This chapter shall apply to residential premises,
as follows:
A.
Lots, plots, or parcels of land, on which residential
buildings, buildings of mixed occupancy or accessory structures are
located.
B.
Residential buildings, including one- and two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings, except as specifically excluded in § 748-3.
C.
Residential occupancies in buildings of mixed occupancy.
D.
Accessory structures, accessory to residential occupancies.
This chapter shall not apply to mobile homes
and mobile home courts, or to transient-type occupancies and uses
including, but not limited to, nursing and convalescent homes, hotels,
motels, tourist camps, travel trailers, and trailer parks, and other
forms of temporary housing.
Where a provision of this chapter is found to
be in conflict with a provision of a zoning, building, electrical,
plumbing, fire, safety, health, water supply or sewage disposal law
or ordinance, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, or other local
law, ordinance, code, or regulations, the provision or requirement
which establishes the higher standard shall govern and prevail.
The use of residential premises as provided for in this chapter,
including installations, alterations, and repairs to residential premises,
and materials, assemblies, and equipment utilized in connection therewith,
shall be reasonably safe to persons and property, and shall be in
conformity with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building
Code and its subparts, as amended, and incorporated by reference hereby
(the "Uniform Code").
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 748-6,
Definitions, as amended, which immediately followed this section.
