For the purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions shall apply:
BUILDING
Any structure, whether public or private, whether vacant
or occupied, that is adapted to or used for dwelling occupancy; for
the transaction of business; for the rendering of professional services,
amusement; the display, or sale or storage of goods, wares, merchandise,
articles or equipment; for the performance of work or labor; for office
buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants,
warehouses, houses of worship, garages; or structures where domestic
or other animals or fowl are kept; for sheds, outbuildings, or other
structures or premises used as accessory to any such use.
OWNER
The actual owner of the buildings, whether individual, partnership
or corporation, or the agent of the building or other person having
custody of the buildings or to whom the rent is paid.
RODENT/VERMIN ERADICATION
The elimination or extermination of rodents/vermin within
buildings by any or all of accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation
or trapping, so that the buildings are completely freed of rodents
and there is no evidence of rodent infestation.
RODENT/VERMIN HARBORAGE
Any condition which provides shelter or protection for rodents/vermin,
thus favoring their multiplying and continued existence.
UNFIT BUILDING, DWELLING or DWELLING UNIT
One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary,
unsafe, vermin-infested or so located that it creates a serious hazard
to the health or safety of the occupants and/or lacks illumination,
ventilation, is structurally unstable, constitutes a fire hazard,
lacks exit and sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health
or safety of the occupants or of the public.
VERMIN
Includes rodents, and other objectionable little animals
or insects such as larvae, flies, bedbugs, roaches, fleas, lice and
mites.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 575, General
Provisions, Board of Health, Art. V)]
A. Whenever it shall be decided by the Health Officer
that any building or part thereof occupied as a residence or business
is unfit for human habitation by reason of its unsanitary condition,
the Director or their designee shall cause a notice of such decision,
together with the reasons therefor, to be served in the following
manner:
(1) The notice shall be served upon the owner of the property
and its occupants by certified mail or personal service.
(2) If the owner or occupants cannot be served in accordance with Subsection
A(1), the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the building.
B. The notice shall state that the building or a designated
part thereof shall be vacated within the time as is specified in the
notice and/or the violations shall be abated within the time as is
specified in the notice.
No owner or lessee of any building or any part
thereof shall lease or let or hire out the same or any portion thereof
to be occupied by any person or allow the same to be occupied as a
place in which or for anyone to dwell or lodge, except when such building
or such part thereof is sufficiently lighted and ventilated and is
in all respects in that condition of cleanliness and wholesomeness
required by this Code, any ordinance of the Township or any law of
this state or in which they require such premises to be kept.
No person shall occupy or let to another for
occupancy any basement space within a dwelling or dwelling unit, for
the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following
requirements:
A. The floor level of rooms used for sleeping is less
than 3 1/2 feet below the average grade of ground adjacent to
and within 15 feet of the exterior walls of such rooms. The floors
and walls must be impervious to leakage of underground and surface
runoff water and insulated against dampness, and provided that the
windows thereof are at least 15 feet from the nearest building or
wall.
B. The total of window area in each room is equal to
at least the minimum of not less than 8% of the floor area.
C. Such required minimum window area is located entirely
above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area.
D. The total of openable window area in each room is
equal to at least the minimum of 4% of the floor area being ventilated,
except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate
ventilation and approved by the public officer.
No owner, agent, lessee or keeper of any tenement
house, lodging or boardinghouse or dwelling shall cause so great a
number of persons to dwell, be or sleep in any such house or any portion
thereof as to provide less than the minimum standards of the Housing
Code of the Township in regard to occupancy and air space.
In each dwelling, a minimum of one toilet and
one sink in good and serviceable condition or as otherwise prescribed
by the Uniform Construction Code shall be provided for each family
living separately. Every premises occupied as commercial, business
or industrial shall be provided with a minimum of one toilet and one
sink in good and serviceable condition or as otherwise prescribed
by the Uniform Construction Code.
The owner, lessor or agent of any building or
part thereof used in any degree for occupation by human beings, whether
for business or dwelling purposes, shall keep the roofs, gutters and
sidewalls of such building so that same shall not leak.
No chimney, smoke pipe, smokestack, flue or
any part thereof or any connection therewith shall be or remain defective
or out of repair as to allow any noxious fumes or odors to escape
into said building.