For purposes of this code, the following words shall have the
following specified meanings:
A.
Abandoned
buildings: Any building or structure that is vacant, unoccupied or
occupied by persons not authorized by the owner or tenant wherein
the following indicia of abandonment are present individually or collectively:
overgrown and/or dead vegetation; unmaintained pools and spas; broken
windows and/or doors; an accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers
and/or mail; past due utility notices and/or disconnected utilities;
unauthorized utility hookups; an accumulation of trash, junk and/or
debris; the absence of window coverings such as curtains, blinds and/or
shutters; the absence of furnishings and/or personal items consistent
with habitation; signs of camping or other unauthorized habitation;
and/or statements by delivery agents, government employees, or neighbors
that the property is vacant and/or has been abandoned.
B.
Abandoned
drive-in enterprises: Any drive-in enterprise which has ceased providing
goods and services for at least 180 days. The term "abandoned drive-in
enterprise" shall not include any enterprise, all or a part of which
has been lawfully converted to another use permitted by zoning regulations,
and for which all necessary permits, licenses and other entitlements
have been issued, so long as the premises are occupied and maintained
for such use.
C.
Department head: The Director of each County department and their designated representatives as defined in Section 16.18.201.
D.
Drive-in
enterprise: Any commercial enterprise such as a service station or
drive-in restaurant upon which enclosed buildings occupy less than
25% of the lot area and where the primary method of providing goods
and services to customers is by means of a drive through service.
E.
Junk:
Any cast-off, damaged, discarded, junked, obsolete, salvaged, scrapped,
unusable, worn-out or wrecked object, thing or material composed in
whole or in part of asphalt, brick, carbon, cement, plastic or other
synthetic substance, fiber, glass, metal, paper, plaster, plaster
of Paris, rubber, terra cotta, wool, wood, cloth, canvas, organic
matter or other substance, which is ready for destruction or has been
collected or stored for salvage or conversion to some use.
F.
Junk
yard: Any premises on which any junk is abandoned, bailed, bartered,
bought, brought, bundled, deposited, disassembled, disposed of, exchanged,
handled, kept, packed, processed, scattered, shipped, sold, stored
or transported, regardless of whether or not such activity is done
for profit.
G.
Owner:
Owner of record of real property, occupant, lessee, or interested
holder in same, as the case may be.
H.
Premises:
Any real property, or improvements thereon, as the case may be.
I.
Property:
Premises.
J.
Service
station: Any premises upon which the improvements are designed and
built for the primary purpose of selling to or providing others with
fuels for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, whether or
not providing related automotive maintenance and repair services.
K.
Vacant
building or property: Any building or property that has stood unoccupied
or occupied by unauthorized parties for more than 30 days, unless
the owner establishes by substantial evidence to the reasonable satisfaction
of the department head that one of the following applies:
1.
The
building is the subject of an active building permit for repair or
rehabilitation and the owner is progressing diligently to complete
the repair or rehabilitation;
2.
The
building is vacant due to fire, flood, earthquake, or other form of
natural disaster and the owner is actively pursuing assistance for
demolition, rehabilitation or restoration of the building and/or premises
from local, State or Federal assistance programs or from insurance
agencies; or
3.
The
building or property complies with all codes and is ready for occupancy.
(SCC 0982 § 1, 1995; SCC
1146 § 2, 1999; SCC 1459 § 1,
2010; SCC 1530 § 1, 2013; SCC 1578 § 6, 2015)
