When, in the opinion of the code official,
there is imminent danger of failure or collapse of
a building or structure that 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 public safety, the code official shall temporarily close structures and close, or order 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 or owner's authorized agent 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 thereafter, upon petition
directed to the appeals board, be afforded a hearing as described
in this code.