[HISTORY: Derived from the Charter and Ordinances, 1974, of the City of Buffalo as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction and demolition; fire prevention — See Ch. 103.
Public buildings — See Ch. 111.
Hazardous materials — See Ch. 235.
Inspections — See Ch. 249.
[Derived from Art. XXIV of Ch. V of the Charter and Ordinances, 1974]
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
CLOTHES CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT
A place for the cleaning of wearing apparel or home furnishings of fabric, such as draperies, slipcovers and other similar lightweight articles by the use of solvents, other than water or laundry detergents, which are and the vapors from which are nonexplosive and noninflammable.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
SELF-SERVICE LAUNDRY AND/OR CLOTHES CLEANER
Includes any place so equipped with washing machines, laundry machines, dry-cleaning machines, dryers, drying machines and like equipment which permit or are constructed in such a fashion to permit the general public without the manual assistance of the owner, his agents or employees to wash and dry and/or dry-clean clothing, apparel, fabrics and cloth for a fee, and shall include coin-operated laundries and/or clothes cleaners.
It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, maintain or operate a self-service laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment without obtaining a license therefor.
[Amended 5-22-1995, effective 6-2-1995; 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
Each license shall expire every two years on the 31st day of December following the date of its issuance unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services. A license shall not be transferable from person to person, nor shall a license approved for one location be used in any other location.
The fee for each license and each renewal thereof shall be as provided in Chapter 175, Fees, and the same must accompany each application for a license or a renewal thereof.
Before a license is issued, the licensee shall execute and furnish to the City of Buffalo a bond in the sum of $2,000, conditioned to indemnify and save harmless the City of Buffalo of and from any damage or loss which may result from the work of said licensee being done carelessly or imperfectly or in such a way that injury or loss results therefrom or by reason of any failure on the part of any employee of the licensee to comply with all or any of the ordinances and regulations relating to the operation of a laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment covered by this article.
A. 
The application for a license to conduct a self-service laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment shall be in writing on a form furnished by the Director of Housing and Inspections and shall be executed under oath.
B. 
Such application shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The true name and address of the owner of the self-service laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment.
(2) 
The address of the self-service laundry and/ or clothes-cleaning establishment.
(3) 
A description of each type of machine or the premises and the number of machines of each type.
(4) 
Such other information as the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services shall require.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
The Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services shall submit all license applications to the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services with the request that the premises proposed to be licensed be examined. A license may not be issued until the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services has certified to the Director of Housing and Inspections that the premises of the proposed self-service laundry and/or clothes cleaner are structurally safe for the anticipated operation and comply with all requirements of the Building Code and other applicable ordinances covering the use and maintenance of a structure used for the operation of a self-service laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment.
No self-service laundry and/or clothes-cleaning establishment shall be open for business between the hours of 12:00 midnight Saturday and 12:00 midnight Sunday.
A. 
There shall be posted in a conspicuous place on each premises licensed as a self-service laundry and/or clothes cleaner the name and address of the owner and the number of the license issued therefor, and the same shall be so affixed to a wall or other surface as to prevent it from being easily removed.
B. 
Licensed premises shall be examined daily by the licensee, his agents, servants or employees to determine that the machines are in good working order and that the premises are clean and sanitary.
C. 
All licensed premises shall be kept clean and in good order at all times. Floors shall be periodically cleaned and kept free from trash, wrappings and waste. Walls shall be kept clean.
D. 
The licensee shall maintain sufficient wastebaskets to ensure the cleanliness of the premises.
[Derived from Sec. 182 of Ch. VII of the Charter and Ordinances, 1974]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CLOTHES-CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT
A place for the cleaning of wearing apparel or home furnishings or of fabric, such as draperies, slip covers and other similar lightweight articles not including rugs, by the use of solvents, other than water or laundry detergents, which are and the vapors from which are nonexplosive and nonflammable.
DRY-CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT
A place for the cleaning of wearing apparel, textiles, fabrics and similar articles or materials by the use of flammable liquids.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
No clothes-cleaning establishment and no dry-cleaning establishment, as herein defined, shall use or be conducted and operated on or in any premises or building unless the owner or operator of said establishment shall have first obtained a certificate of inspection from the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services as hereinafter provided. The Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services may revoke or suspend any certificate issued by him for cause after a hearing pursuant to law.
[Amended 5-22-1995, effective 6-2-1995; 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
Such certificate shall be issued by the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services upon the payment by the applicant therefor of the fee as provided in Chapter 175, Fees. No certificate shall be issued by the Commissioner until he has received the written approval and recommendation of the Chief Combustion Inspector based on an inspection of the establishment. All certificates issued hereunder shall expire every two years on the 31st day of December and shall be renewed biennially and shall be conspicuously posted and displayed on the inspected premises. Failure to properly renew a certificate shall result in its termination.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
The application of such original certificate shall be on forms furnished by the Chief Combustion Inspector, which application shall contain, in addition to any other information required by said Chief, the type, name and description of the equipment and solvent to be used by the applicant and the method of automatic ventilation proposed to be used to prevent the accumulation and concentration of hazardous, noxious or toxic fumes or vapors.
A. 
No certificate shall be approved or issued for the use of any solvent generating a flammable vapor at a temperature below 100° F. when tested in a Tagliabue closed cup tester.
B. 
When any change or addition is to be made in the dry-cleaning equipment, ventilation or solvent used, the holder of the certificate of inspection shall, before such change is effected, notify the Chief Combustion Inspector in writing of such proposed change and receive his approval therefor and shall thereupon have his application amended and his certificate of inspection changed in accordance therewith if so approved.
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
[Amended 12-9-2003, effective 12-19-2003]
A. 
The Chief Combustion Inspector shall cause an inspection to be made before the issuance or renewal of such certificate of inspection to determine whether the establishment is being used and operated in accordance with the provisions of this article and in compliance with the details concerning equipment, solvent, ventilation and safety factors as contained and as approved in the application for said certificate of inspection. Approval of said Chief shall be further based upon the nationally accepted practices and standards of the dry-cleaning industry in relation to safety, including the applicable standards and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The use of any clothes- or dry-cleaning equipment and solvent, the storage and transfer of solvent and the removal and disposition of wastes shall be such as to prevent any hazard or fire or explosion or the exposure of any person to hazardous, noxious or toxic solvents, wastes, fumes or vapors, and the premises so used shall be automatically ventilated through the equipment or otherwise to prevent such exposure either within or without the premises. No ventilation shall be exhausted into flues connected with devices used for the combustion of any substances. No equipment or solvent shall be used in any clothes- or dry-cleaning establishment except in conformity with the application for and the certificate of inspection issued pursuant to this article. No certificate shall be approved or issued except where the equipment and solvent to be used are safe from fire and explosion and their use shall not subject any person, either in or out of the premises or building to be used, to hazardous, noxious or toxic fumes or vapors. A certificate of inspection issued under this article does not preclude compliance with or proper enforcement for violation of any applicable laws or ordinances.