Any building as described and defined hereinbelow shall be, and the same are, hereby declared to be public nuisances and unlawful:
(1) 
Any building with roof, ceiling, floors, sills, or foundations, or any combination thereof, rotted or decayed and falling apart; windows out, uninhabitable, untenantable and unsightly, due to obsolescence and deterioration caused by neglect or vandalism or fire damage or old age or the elements;
(2) 
Any building in danger of falling and injuring the person or property of another;
(3) 
Any building which is a fire menace to-wit, by being in dilapidated condition, as fully described in subsections (1) and (2) hereof, and which has an accumulation of rubbish and trash which is likely to become a fire, or be set on fire, in and around said building and endanger the person or property of others; or
(4) 
Any building which is in the condition or conditions described in subsections (1) or (2) or (3) hereof, which is damp and in unsanitary condition, which is likely to create disease and sickness. When used in this article the term “building” shall include any erection or structure of any kind or any part thereof.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:01, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.201)
(a) 
A report on dangerous buildings shall be made to the city council and mayor by the fire chief and the chief of police. Attached to the report shall be photos of said buildings showing what condition the building are in. Photos should be dated and signed with the time of day the photos were taken.
(b) 
Whenever in the opinion of the city council and mayor any building, fence, shed, awning or any erection of any kind, or any part thereof, is liable to fall down and endanger persons or property or is a dangerous structure, in accordance with section 4.02.001, the city council and mayor shall order the owner, agent, or occupant of the dangerous structure or premises on which it stands or is attached, to take down and remove the same or any part thereof within ten (10) days after notice is served or published as directed by order of the city council and mayor.
(c) 
In the event the owner, agent or occupant shall fail or refuse to remove the same after notice is served or published as directed by order of the city council and mayor, then the city council and mayor shall have the power to remove the same at the expense of the city on account of the owners of the property or premises and assess the expense on the land on which it stood or to which it was attached.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:02, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.202)
(a) 
The fire chief and chief of police shall examine or cause to be examined every building or structure or portion thereof reported as dangerous, damaged, or unsafe and, if such is found to be an unsafe or dangerous structure under the provisions of this chapter or other effective ordinances of the city, the chief of police and fire chief, shall give the owner of such building or structure written notice stating the defects found to exist in violation of this article or in violation of any other effective article or ordinance of the city.
(b) 
The notice from the fire chief and the chief of police shall require the owner or person in charge of the building or premises to commence either the required repairs or improvements or demolition and removal of the building or structure or portions thereof within fifteen (15) days from the date such notice is mailed or delivered to the owner or person in charge of such building or premises, and all work shall be completed within ninety (90) days from date of notice, unless otherwise stipulated by the fire chief or the chief of police.
(c) 
Service of notice may be by certified mail or personal service.
(d) 
The fire chief or chief of police shall cause to be posted at each entrance at such building a notice to read:
DO NOT ENTER. UNSAFE TO OCCUPY
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF KNOX CITY.
Such notice shall remain posted until the required repairs, demolition, or removal are completed. Such notice shall not be removed without written permission of the fire chief or chief of police and no person shall enter the building except for the purpose of making the required repairs or demolishing the building.
(e) 
In case the owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to repair, rehabilitate or to demolish said building or structure or portion thereof, the fire chief or chief of police may proceed to prosecute said owner or person in charge of said building or structure as a violator of the provisions of this article or other applicable article or ordinance of the city.
(f) 
In case the owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to repair, rehabilitate or to demolish and remove said building or structure or portion thereof the fire chief or chief of police shall notify the city council and mayor of the city of such act and the city council and mayor may order the completion of the work specified in such notice or order such building or structure demolished or removed and may cause the cost of such work to be paid and levied as a special assessment against the property at a public hearing before the city council.
(g) 
The city council and mayor shall give notice to the owner or person in charge of such structure of the public hearing before the city council and the order directing the removal or completion of the work and assessing the cost thereof against the property.
(h) 
Notice of the public hearing to be heard before the city council and mayor shall be given by causing a notice of such hearing to be mailed at least ten (10) days before the date of such hearing to the owner, agent or occupant of the dangerous building or structure or of the premises on which it stands or is attached at his last known address and by publication of notice of such hearing before the city council at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the city prior to the date of such hearing.
(i) 
If the owner, agent or occupant of the dangerous building or structure or of the premises on which it stands or is attached shall appear before the city council at such hearing, no further notice or notices shall be required, but if he fail to appear, the notice of the order of the city council made at such hearing shall be served by mailing a copy of such order to the owner, agent or occupant of the dangerous building or structure or the premises on which it stands or is attached to his last known address by certified mail and by publication of a copy of such order at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the city.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:03, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.203)
Upon the expiration of ten (10) days from the date of the order of the city council upon the owner or person in charge of such dangerous structure and the publication thereof as required herein, the removal or other work shall proceed.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:04, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.204)
In the event the owner, agent or occupant of the premises shall fail or refuse for the period of thirty (30) days to pay off and discharge the expenses assessed by the city council then the city may commence an action in any court having jurisdiction to recover the expenses assessed by the city council.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:05, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.205; Ordinance adopting 2022 Code)
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code, and each and every day’s violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. In case the owner or occupant of any building under the provisions of this article shall be a corporation and shall violate any of the provision of this article, such corporation or the president, vice president, secretary or treasurer of such corporation, or manager, agent, or employee of such corporation, shall be severally liable for the penalties herein provided for a violation of this article in accordance with the provisions of V.T.C.A., Penal Code sections 7.22 and 7.23.
(Ordinance 1116, sec. 1:06, adopted 6/14/88; 1996 Code, sec. 3.206)