When, in the opinion of the Code Official, there is imminent
danger of failure or collapse of a building or structure which endangers
life, or when any structure or part of a structure has fallen and
life is endangered by the occupation of the structure, or when there
is actual or potential danger to the building occupants or those in
the proximity of any structure because of explosives, explosive fumes
or vapors or the presence of toxic fumes, gases or materials, or operation
of defective or dangerous equipment, the Code Official is hereby authorized
and empowered to order and require the occupants to vacate the premises
forthwith. The Code Official shall cause to be posted at each entrance
to such structure a notice reading as follows: "This Structure Is
Unsafe and Its Occupancy Has Been Prohibited by the Code Official."
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure except
for the purpose of securing the structure, making the required repairs,
removing the hazardous condition or of demolishing the same.
Notwithstanding other provisions of this Code, whenever, in
the opinion of the Code Official, there is imminent danger due to
an unsafe condition, the Code Official shall order the necessary work
to be done, including the boarding-up of openings, to render such
structure temporarily safe whether or not the legal procedure herein
described has been instituted; and shall cause such other action to
be taken as the Code Official deems necessary to meet such emergency.
When necessary for the public safety, the Code Official shall
temporarily close structures and close, or request the authority having
jurisdiction to close sidewalks, streets, public ways and places adjacent
to unsafe structures, and prohibit the same from being utilized.
For the purposes of this section, the Code Official shall employ
the necessary labor and materials to perform the required work as
expeditiously as possible.
Costs incurred in the performance of emergency work shall be
paid by the jurisdiction. The legal counsel of the jurisdiction shall
institute appropriate action against the owner of the premises where
the unsafe structure is or was located for the recovery of such costs.
Any person ordered to take emergency measures shall comply with
such order forthwith. Any affected person shall comply with such order
forthwith. Any affected person shall thereafter, upon petition directed
to the appeals board, be afforded a hearing as described in this Code.