It shall be the responsibility of the owner to keep and maintain
each dwelling so as to comply with the minimum basic requirements
of this Housing Ordinance and other applicable codes affecting those
units. If the owner is prevented from complying with such requirements
by the actions of a tenant, it shall be the right of the owner to
terminate the tenancy and evict the tenant in accordance with applicable
state law.
Every occupant shall cooperate with the owner or responsible
party and shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining the dwelling
in a safe and sanitary condition, except for the normal wear and tear,
and for meeting the minimum requirements of this Housing Ordinance.
Any occupant who fails to comply with this section shall be subject
to prosecution by the appropriate authorities pursuant to this Housing
Ordinance, and where applicable, to eviction from the dwelling by
the owner or responsible party in accordance with state law.
Animals kept or allowed within a dwelling shall not be permitted
by the occupant or responsible party to create any unsafe, odorous
or unsanitary condition or to cause any damage to the dwelling or
structure.
Animals kept or allowed in a yard or in an accessory structure
shall not be permitted by the occupant or responsible party to create
any unsafe, odorous or unsanitary condition.
All improvements located in a yard, including, but not limited
to, walkways, driveway, steps, fences and walls shall be in good repair.
Trees, shrubs and plants which have damaged a dwelling or which
are diseased or create an unsafe condition shall be trimmed or removed
by the responsible party.
No person shall accumulate or permit to be accumulated junk,
except in a wholly enclosed structure provided that such storage does
not harbor vermin or pose a fire hazard to the occupants of the dwelling.
Except as may otherwise be permitted by the holding of a specific
business license or by other City of Lapeer ordinance, no person shall
store, accumulate, or permit the storage or accumulation of any building
materials on property owned, leased, rented or occupied by him for
any period longer than reasonably necessary for the immediate use
of such materials, but in no event longer than 60 days.
No person shall maintain or allow to be maintained any partially
completed dwelling unless it is in the course of construction in accordance
with an existing building permit issued by the City.
No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained any vacant
dwelling unless it is made safe by having all broken or missing panes
of glass replaced and all openings secured, or that all openings have
sheathing nailed to the jamb properly per boarding standards as recognized
by the Building Code Official and outlined in the International Property
Maintenance Code.
Any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, or rooming unit,
in whole or in part, which shall be found to have any of the following
defects shall be deemed to be unfit for human habitation:
A.
One which is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or
vermin-infested so that it creates a serious hazard to the health
or safety of the occupants or to the public.
B.
One which lacks light, ventilation, heating or sanitary facilities
adequate to protect the health or safety of the occupants or of the
public as prescribed by the provisions of this Housing Ordinance.
C.
One which does not include a stove or other cooking facilities, a
refrigerator, or space for dry goods storage; except, however, where
said facilities are not required by this Housing Ordinance for a particular
type of dwelling unit.
D.
One which exposes or could expose the occupants to dangerous levels
of air pollution from carbon monoxide, sewer gas, dust, or other harmful
pollutants.
E.
One which because of its location, exposes or could expose the occupants
to serious adverse environmental conditions, natural man-made, such
as dangerous walks, steps, instability, flooding, poor drainage, septic
tank backups, sewage hazard, mud slides, or excessive noise, vibration,
or vehicular traffic.
