[Amended 4-16-2002 by L.L. No. 1-2002]
No person shall occupy or let to another for
occupancy any structure, for the purpose of living therein, which
does not comply with the requirements set forth herein.
All buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, multiple
dwellings, rooming units, rooming houses, yards, courts, open areas
and vacant lots which are in violation of this chapter are hereby
declared to be a nuisance and shall be abated by being corrected,
made sanitary, repaired, vacated or demolished in accordance with
the order of the enforcement officer.
[Amended 6-23-1998 by L.L. No. 2-1998; 4-16-2002 by L.L. No.
1-2002]
Residential, commercial and industrial buildings,
whether occupied or vacant, and accessory structures shall be maintained
in conformity with the provisions of this chapter so as to assure
the desirable character of the property.
A. Fences. Fences and other minor construction shall
be maintained in a safe and substantial condition.
B. Steps and driveways. Steps, walks, driveways, parking
spaces and similar paved areas shall be maintained so as to afford
safe passage under normal use and weather conditions. Any holes or
other hazards that may exist shall be filled or necessary repairs
or replacement carried out.
C. Yards; courts; vacant lots. Yards, courts and vacant
lots shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage
and infestation. They shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent
dust or other particles from being blown about the neighborhood. Open
wells, cesspools or cisterns shall be securely closed or barricaded
from access to the public.
D. Undergrowth; accumulations of plant growth. Heavy
undergrowth and accumulations of plant growth which are noxious or
detrimental to health shall be eliminated. Any trees or portions thereof
located on private property and constituting a hazard to persons or
property shall be trimmed or removed.
Every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof
shall be reasonably weathertight and rodent-proof, shall be capable
of affording privacy and shall be kept in good repair.
Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway
shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodent-proof and
shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
Every inside and outside stair, every porch
and every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to 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. Adequate railings or guards shall be provided on all open
portions of stairs, balconies, landings and stairwells more than 33
inches above surrounding ground or floor level.
Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe
shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working
condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions, in compliance
with Village, county and state codes.
Every water closet compartment floor surface
and bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so
as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor
to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to prohibit the maintenance of wooden floors
in such rooms, provided that such floors are as impervious to water
as may reasonably be required of well-maintained wood floors.
Every supplied facility, piece of equipment
or utility which is required under this chapter shall be so constructed
or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall
be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
[Amended 4-16-2002 by L.L. No. 1-2002]
A. Discontinued service. No owner, operator or occupant
shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required
under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued
for any occupied dwelling, except for such temporary interruption
as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process
or during temporary emergencies.
B. Separate meters. No owner or operator shall cause
to be rented any dwelling unit or rooming unit for which the occupant
pays for all or part of his utilities unless said utility serves only
the occupant's unit and is separately metered.
[Amended 4-16-2002 by L.L. No. 1-2002]
All exterior exposed surfaces not inherently
resistant to deterioration shall be repaired, coated, treated, or
sealed to protect them from deterioration or weathering. The exterior
surface shall be so maintained as to protect the inhabitants therein
from the elements of the weather. All exterior walls, structures,
doors, basement hatchways, and windows shall be maintained to prevent
excessive heat loss during the winter months by the installation of
insulation, weather stripping, or other devices reasonably calculated
to prevent excessive loss. It shall be the responsibility of the property
owner to demonstrate that the proposed solution shall be compliant
with state fire and building codes and demonstrate sufficient insulation
value without the loss of minimum ventilation and provide access to
the exterior in cases of emergency.
The owner of a vacated building shall take such
steps and perform such acts as may be required of him or her by the
Code Enforcement Officer to ensure that the building and its adjoining
yards remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining
property or to the public. Buildings and structures shall be maintained
to such condition that they shall not become an unoccupied hazard.
In any building, any floor area maintained in a vacant status or about
to become vacant is to have at least one access thereto which meets
the approval of the enforcement officer.