[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the City of Crisfield 1-9-2008 by Ord. No. 581[1]; amended in its entirety 5-8-2024 by Ord. No. 723. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed
former Ch. 33, Buildings, Unsafe, adopted 1-9-1978 by Ord. No. 316,
as amended.
For the subject matter of this chapter, except
for derelict structures, refer to the International Property Maintenance
Code.[1] In the event of a conflict between the International Property
Maintenance Code and another provision of this chapter, this chapter
shall control.
[1]
Editor's Note: A copy of the currently adopted
International Property Maintenance Code and any amendments made thereto
is on file in the City offices.
A.
DERELICT
OWNER
SEMITRAILER
STRUCTURE
UNINHABITABLE
Definitions.
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any structure which is abandoned, dilapidated, burned-out,
fallen-down, or decaying, or remnant thereof, which is unattended
and/or uninhabitable or unusable for its intended purpose and is beyond
reasonable hope for re-habitation or restoration or any structure,
whether inhabited or not, which has three or more exterior violations
of the International Building Code, to include all appendixes thereto.
Any person, firm, entity, corporation, or group holding title
to the property.
A vehicle that has no motive power and is designed to carry
property and to be towed by a motor vehicle. Further, the vehicle
is constructed so that some of its weight and load rests on or is
carried by another vehicle.
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on
the ground or attached to something having a fixed location on the
ground. A structure includes buildings, sheds, manufactured homes,
walls, tanks, signs and semitrailers, parts of semitrailers and walk-in-type
truck bodies.
Any structure of which the health and/or safety of the owner,
occupant, person on premises, or neighbor is or can be endangered.
C.
Determination
of derelict structure.
(1)
The
City Housing Inspector is empowered to inspect, investigate and determine
the existence of a derelict structure.
(2)
In investigating
a derelict structure, the City Housing Inspector may enter upon the
subject property at all reasonable times and in a reasonable manner
for the purpose of inspecting the premises to determine if a structure
is derelict.
(3)
The
subject structure must be visible from a county, state or City road;
from a private road generally used for public access to adjacent properties;
from adjacent properties; or from a body of water.
D.
Enforcement.
(1)
Upon
the determination of the City Housing Inspector that a structure is
derelict, the City Housing Inspector shall issue a written notice
of abatement to the property owner. The notice to abate shall be served
in the same manner as a citation and shall provide 30 days, from date
of service, to correct the violation
(2)
The
notice shall contain the following:
(a)
A
brief description of the property containing the nuisance;
(b)
The
justification for why the structure is derelict and the corrective
action which is required to abate the violation;
(c)
A
statement requiring abatement of the violation by the property owner
within 30 days and inspection of the corrective action by the City
Housing Inspector; and
(d)
Certification
of the City Housing Inspector attesting to the truth of the matters
set forth.
(3)
If a
property owner takes corrective action to abate the violation, the
City Housing Inspector shall inspect the corrective action to determine
whether the violation has been successfully abated.
(4)
If the
property owner fails to abate the violation, whether through inaction
or through an unsuccessful attempt at corrective action, the City
Housing Inspector shall issue a citation for the violation.
