This chapter shall be known as the "Housing Code of the Town
of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland."
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health,
safety, and welfare in connection with residential structures and
premises and other buildings and premises that may contain residential
occupancy, to that end, this chapter:
A. Establishes minimum property maintenance standards for basic equipment
and facilities used for light, ventilation, heating and sanitation
for residential structures and premises, and for safe and sanitary
maintenance of residential structures and premises.
B. Establishes minimum requirements for the exterior and interior of
residential structures and premises and any residential rental unit
therein, including requirements related to the structural integrity
and maintenance of building foundations, walls, roofs, floors, porches,
and attachments; the operability of exit doors, windows, chimneys,
and plumbing; and the means of egress, fire protection systems and
other equipment and devices necessary for safety from fire.
C. Fixes the responsibilities of property owners, operators, and tenants
of residential structures and premises.
D. Establishes a Town rental licensing and inspection program.
E. Provides for administration, enforcement and penalties.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms have
the meanings indicated:
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Town's official person, designee or agent responsible
for administering this code and enforcing its provisions.
CONDEMN
To declare a structure or part thereof, premises, or equipment
unsafe or unfit for use or occupation.
EQUIPMENT
Any or all of the physical assets, other than land or buildings,
and all apparatuses, machines, and devices that are intended to function
to make a housing unit habitable, safe, and enjoyable, providing services
including, but not limited to; heating, cooling, ventilation, supply
of hot water, cooking, refrigeration, detection of smoke and gas,
and suppression of fire.
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of insects, rodents, vermin,
or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; removing or
making inaccessible material that may serve as their food; poison
spraying, fumigating, or trapping; or by any other pest elimination
methods that have received all necessary and legally required approvals.
HABITABLE ROOM AREA
A room or enclosed floor space in a structure used or intended
to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating. It does not include
bathrooms, laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, utility rooms, foyers,
stairways, closets, hallways, storage spaces, workshops, accessory
structures and hobby and recreational areas in unsealed or uninsulated
parts of a structure below ground level or in attics.
HOUSING UNIT
A single unit of a structure providing or intended to provide
complete living and sleeping facilities for one or more persons.
INFESTATION
The presence within or contiguous to a structure or premises
of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
MAINTENANCE
Repair of a structure, premises, or equipment to bring the
structure into compliance with the standards established by this chapter
and other applicable statues, codes, and ordinances and other acts
intended to prevent a decline in the condition of structures, premises
or equipment below such standards.
OCCUPANT
An individual having possession of a space within a housing
unit.
OPERATOR
A person who has charge, care, or control of a structure
or premises that is offered for occupancy.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate,
association or corporation.
PLUMBING
The practice, materials, facilities, and fixtures used in
the installation, maintenance, extension or alteration of all piping,
fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances used for the water distribution
system of the premises, including drainage systems for the discharge
of water and wastewater.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel, of land including the structures on
it.
RENTAL or RENTAL UNIT
Any housing unit rented or leased to a person for a continuous
period of 30 days or more.
RUBBISH
Paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather,
plastic, tree branches, yard trimmings, metal cans, metals, mineral
matter, glass, crockery, dust and other similar materials as well
as the residue from the burning of materials.
SAFE
The condition of being free from danger and hazards that
may cause accidents or disease.
TENANT
An occupant other than the property owner.
TOWN
The Town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.
VENTILATION
The process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical
means to or from a space.