No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or
let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the
purpose of living therein, which does not comply with requirements
set forth herein.
All buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, multiple
dwellings, rooming units, rooming houses, yards, courts, open areas
and vacant lots which are in violation of this chapter are hereby
declared to be nuisances and shall be abated by being corrected, made
sanitary, repaired, vacated or demolished, in accordance with the
orders of the enforcement officer.
Residential, commercial and industrial buildings,
whether occupied or vacant, and accessory structures shall be maintained
in conformity with the provisions of this chapter so as to assure
the desirable character of the property.
A. Fences, etc. Fences and other minor construction shall
be maintained in a safe and substantial condition.
B. Steps, driveways, etc. Steps, walks, driveways, parking
spaces and similar paved areas shall be maintained so as to afford
safe passage under normal use and weather conditions. Any holes or
other hazards that may exist shall be filled or necessary repairs
or replacement carried out.
C. Yards, courts, open porches and vacant lots. Yards,
courts, open porches and vacant lots shall be kept clean and free
of physical hazards, litter, debris, loose papers, dirt, garbage,
junk, rodent harborage and infestation. They shall be maintained in
a manner that will prevent dust or other particles from being blown
about the neighborhood. Open wells, cesspools or cisterns shall be
securely closed or barricaded from access to the public.
D. Undergrowth; accumulations of plant growth. Heavy
undergrowth and accumulations of plant growth which are noxious or
detrimental to health shall be eliminated. Any trees or portions thereof
located on private property and constituting a hazard to persons or
property shall be trimmed or removed.
No owner shall occupy or let to any other occupant
any vacant dwelling unit unless it complies with the provisions of
this chapter and provided that said owner of a non-owner-occupied
dwelling unit has registered at least every two years, or more frequently
where the enforcement officer and conditions require it, his rental
units and received for those units a certificate of registration.
Upon each rental or re-rental of a dwelling unit, the owner shall
obtain from the enforcement officer a certificate of compliance or
similar rental permit. The name of the responsible agent for the property
shall be recorded on the certificate of registration by the enforcement
officer.
Every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof
shall be reasonably weathertight and rodentproof, shall be capable
of affording privacy and shall be kept in good repair.
Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway
shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodentproof and shall
be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
Every inside and outside stair, every porch
and every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed so as to be
safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may
cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and
good repair. Adequate railings or guards shall be provided on all
open portions of stairs, balconies, landings and stairwells more than
33 inches above surrounding ground or floor level.
Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe
shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working
condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions.
Every water closet compartment floor surface
and bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so
as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor
to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to prohibit the maintenance of wooden floors
in such rooms, provided that such floors are as impervious to water
as may reasonably be required of well-maintained wood floors.
Every supplied facility, piece of equipment
or utility which is required under this chapter shall be so constructed
or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall
be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any
service, facility equipment or utility which is required under this
chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any
occupied dwelling let or occupied by him, except for such temporary
interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations
are in process or during temporary emergencies.
All exterior exposed surfaces not inherently
resistant to deterioration shall be repaired, coated, treated or sealed
to protect them from deterioration or weathering.
The owner of a vacated building shall take such
steps and perform such acts as may be required of him from time to
time to ensure that the building and its adjoining yards remain safe
and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining property or to
the public. Buildings and structures shall be maintained in such condition
that they shall not become an unoccupied hazard. In any building any
floor are maintained in a vacant status or about to become vacant
is to have at least one access thereto which meets the approval of
the enforcement officer.