In applying and interpreting this chapter, the following definitions
shall be used:
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or combination of rooms, including kitchen and toilet
facilities, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied or
intended, arranged or designed to be occupied for dwelling or residential
purposes by one or more persons.
DISPLACED PERSON
Any person who, on or after the effective date of the Act
moves from a multiple dwelling, or moves his personal property from
a multiple dwelling as a result of a fire or other emergency condition
and the damage resulting from said fire or emergency condition in
the judgment of the Board renders the multiple dwelling unit uninhabitable.
EMERGENCY CONDITION
Any condition dangerous or injurious to the health or safety
of the occupants of a building or occupants of neighboring buildings
which arises out of any of the following circumstances or conditions:
A.
Lack of adequate ventilation or light.
B.
Lack of adequate and properly functioning sanitary
facilities.
C.
Lack of an adequate and healthful water supply.
D.
Structural, mechanical or electrical defects
which increase the hazards of fire, accident or other calamity or
create a security risk to the occupants therein.
E.
Failure from October 1 of each year until the
next succeeding May 1 to maintain every unit of dwelling space and
every habitable room therein at a temperature of at least 68º
F. whenever the outside temperature falls below 55º F. during
the daytime hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., or failure to maintain
every unit of dwelling space and every habitable room therein at a
temperature of at least 55º F. whenever the outside temperature
falls below 40º F. during the nighttime hours of 11:00 p.m. to
6:00 a.m. In meeting the aforesaid standards, the owner shall not
be responsible for heat loss and the consequent drop in the interior
temperature arising from action by the occupants in leaving windows
or doors open to the elements.
F.
Infestation of bed bugs, roaches and other vermin or the existence
of mold which in the opinion of the Health Official and/or Housing
Official of the Board causes the unit to be uninhabitable.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
Any building or structure of one or more stories and any
land appurtenant thereto and any portion thereof, in which four or
more dwelling units are occupied or are intended to be occupied by
four or more persons who live independently of each other. The premises
which are used primarily for purposes other than sleeping, dwelling
or residence purpose shall not be considered a multiple dwelling.
Any person, firm, association or persons or corporations found
guilty of violating any provisions in this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,250, a term of imprisonment
not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding
90 days or any combination thereof. Each day that a violation occurs
shall be considered a separate offense.