The following provisions shall establish the minimum standards
for maintenance of premises and structures that shall be the basis
for housing units as permitted by this chapter.
A. Condition of the premises.
(1) The premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition,
free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
(2) The premises shall be kept free from infestation by insects, rodents,
vermin, or other pests.
(3) The premises shall be kept free from pools of standing water that
fail to dissipate within 24 hours of a rain event, other than approved
stormwater management facilities.
(4) The premises shall comply in all respects with the Property Maintenance
Chapter of the Town Code of Chesapeake Beach.
B. Exterior structure.
(1) General. The exterior of a structure shall be structurally sound
and maintained in good repair and sanitary condition so as not to
pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants.
(2) Structural members. Supporting structural members of a structure
shall be maintained in a condition that is structurally sound, free
from deterioration, and capable of safely bearing the dead and live
loads imposed upon them.
(3) Exterior surfaces. All foundations, exterior walls, roofs, and other
exterior surfaces shall be maintained in good repair and in a condition
that excludes rain, rodents, vermin and other pests.
(4) Exterior walls. Each exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks,
loose or rotting boards or timbers, and other conditions that might
admit rain or dampness to the interior portions of the walls or to
the occupied area of the structure. All exterior surface materials,
including siding, shall be maintained weatherproof and shall be properly
surface-coated when required to prevent deterioration.
(5) Roofs and drainage. Roofs shall be maintained in safe and structurally
sound condition and in good repair and shall not have defects that
might admit rain, roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent rainwater
from causing dampness or deterioration of the walls or interior portion
of the structure.
(6) Decorative features. All cornices, entablatures, belt courses, corbels,
terra-cotta trim, wall facings and similar decorative features shall
be maintained in good repair and in safe condition with proper anchorage.
(7) Building attachments. All canopies, marquees, signs, metal awnings,
stairways, fire escapes, standpipes, exhaust ducts, and similar overhang
extensions shall be maintained in safe and structurally sound condition
and in good repair and shall be protected from the elements and against
decay and rust by the periodic application of a weather-coating material
such as paint or other protective treatment.
(8) Chimneys. All chimneys, cooling towers, smokestacks, and similar
appurtenances shall be maintained in safe and structurally sound condition
and in good repair, and all exposed surfaces of metal or wood shall
be protected from the elements and against decay or rust by periodic
application of weather-coating materials such as paint or other suitable
surface treatment.
(9) Stairs and porches. Each exterior stair, porch, deck, fire escape,
balcony, and all appurtenances attached to them shall be safe to use
for their intended purposes and capable of supporting the loads imposed
in the ordinary course of residential use and shall be maintained
in safe and structurally sound condition and in good repair.
(10)
Doors and window openings. Each window door, and frame shall
be maintained so as to exclude rain and rodents, and to substantially
exclude wind from entering the structure. Each window and exterior
door shall be fitted reasonably in its frame and be weathertight.
Each window shall be free of cracks and holes.
(11)
Operable windows. Each window required or intended to be used
for ventilation or emergency escape shall be capable of being easily
opened from the inside and shall be held in position by window hardware.
(12)
Insect screens. During the period from April 1 to December 1,
every door and window or other outside opening used for ventilation
purposes shall be supplied with tight-pitting insect screens, except
that upon the prior approval of the Code Enforcement Officer, screens
may not be required for exterior doors or other types of openings
for which screens are impractical, such as openings equipped with
air-conditioning units or openings above the fourth floor, alternatives
to screens may be required.
(13)
Door hardware. Each exterior door and its hardware shall be
maintained in good and secure condition. Door locks on all interior
and exterior doors entering housing units shall be in good repair
and capable of tightly securing the door.
C. Interior structure.
(1) General. The interior of a structure and its equipment and facilities
shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound, and in sanitary
condition so as not to pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare
of the occupants.
(2) Structural members. The supporting structural members of a structure
shall be maintained in a condition that is structurally sound, free
of deterioration, and capable of safely carrying the imposed loads.
(3) Interior surfaces, floors, walls (including windows and doors), ceilings,
and other interior surfaces shall be maintained in good repair and
in a clean, safe and sanitary condition.
(4) Bathroom and kitchen floors. The floor surfaces of each bathroom
and kitchen shall be substantially impervious to water and maintained
in a condition that permits the floor to be kept in a clean and sanitary
condition without undue hardship.
(5) Sanitation. The interior of a structure shall be maintained in a
clean and sanitary condition, free from any accumulation of rubbish
or garbage. Rubbish and garbage shall be properly kept inside temporary
storage facilities. Garbage and rubbish may not be allowed to accumulate
or be stored in public halls or stairways.
(6) Insect and rodent harborage. A structure shall be kept free from
infestation of vermin, insects, rodents, or other pests, and where
infestation is found, the area shall be promptly subjected to extermination
processes that are not injurious to human health. After extermination,
proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
(7) Exit doors. Each door available as an exit shall be capable of being
opened easily from the inside.
(8) Exit appurtenances. All interior stairs and railings and other exit
facilities of a structure shall be maintained in sound condition and
good repair. Each interior stair used for exit shall be maintained
so as to be safe to use and capable of supporting the anticipated
loads.