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.