The owner of buildings and premises shall maintain such buildings and
premises in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. A person shall
not occupy as an owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy or use premises
which do not comply with the requirements of this chapter.
All vacant structures and premises thereon or vacant land shall be maintained
in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition as provided by this chapter
so as to not cause blight or adversely affect the public health or safety
of the community.
All premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition
free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
Garbage, vegetable waste or other putrescible material shall be stored
in leakproof containers provided with close-fitting covers for the storage
of such materials until removed from the premises for disposal.
All premises shall be graded and maintained so as to prevent the accumulation
of stagnant water thereon or within any structure located thereon.
All premises shall remain free of insects, rats, vermin or other pests
in all exterior areas of the premises. An owner shall be responsible for extermination,
except that the occupant shall be responsible for such extermination in the
exterior areas of the premises of a single-family dwelling. Extermination
in the shared or public parts of premises of other than a single-family dwelling
shall be the responsibility of the owner.
All premises in residential areas shall be kept free from weeds or plant
growth which are noxious or detrimental to the public health and welfare.
Weeds and plants shall be trimmed to a height of not more than 12 inches.
Except as to previously existing and operating exhaust systems, no person
shall construct, maintain or operate pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers
discharging gases, steam, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous
or particulate waste so as to discharge directly upon abutting or adjacent
public or private property or property of another tenant.
All accessory structures, including detached garages, fences, and walls,
shall be maintained structurally sound and in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter.
The exterior of a structure shall be maintained structurally sound and
sanitary so as not to pose a threat to the health and safety of the occupants
and so as to protect the occupants from the environment.
All supporting structural members of a structure shall remain maintained
structurally sound, free of deterioration and capable of safely bearing the
dead and live loads imposed upon them.
Every foundation, exterior wall, roof and all other exterior surfaces
shall be maintained in a workmanlike state of maintenance and repair and shall
be kept in such condition so as to exclude rats.
All foundation walls shall be maintained so as to carry the safe design
and operating dead and live loads, plumb and free from open cracks and breaks,
except as necessary to release excessive water pressure on the wall so as
not to be detrimental to public safety and welfare.
Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting
boards or timbers and any other condition which might admit rain or dampness
to the interior portions of the walls or to the occupied spaces of the building.
All exterior surface materials, including wood, composition or metal siding,
shall be maintained weatherproof so as to prevent deterioration.
The roof shall be structurally sound, tight and shall not have defects
which might admit rain, and roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent rainwater
from causing dampness in the walls or interior portion of the building.
All cornices, trim and wall facings and similar decorative features
shall be maintained in good repair with proper anchorage and in safe condition.
All canopies, marquees, signs, metal awnings, stairways, fire escapes,
standpipes, exhaust ducts and similar overhang extensions shall be maintained
in good repair, shall be properly anchored so as to be kept in a safe and
sound condition, and shall be protected from the elements and against decay.
All chimneys, cooling towers, smokestacks and similar appurtenances
shall be maintained structurally safe, sound and in good repair. All exposed
surfaces of wood or metal shall be protected from the elements and against
decay.
Every stair, porch, balcony and all appurtenances attached thereto shall
be so maintained as to be safe to use and capable of supporting the loads
to which it may be subjected and shall be maintained in a safe and sound condition
of repair.
Every window, door and frame shall be maintained in such relation to
the adjacent wall construction so as to exclude rain as completely as possible
and to substantially exclude wind from entering the building.
Every window and exterior door shall be fitted reasonably in its frame
and be weathertight. Weather stripping shall be used as necessary to exclude
wind or rain from entering the dwelling or structure and shall be kept in
a sound condition and good repair.
Every repaired window sash shall be fully supplied with glazing materials
which securely hold and place window glass.
Every window, other than an affixed window, shall be capable of being
open and shall be held in position by window hardware.
Every exterior door, door hinge and door latch shall be maintained in
good condition. Door locks in dwelling units shall be in good repair and capable
of tightly securing the door.
Every basement or cellar hatchway or window shall be so maintained as
to prevent the entrance of rats, rain and surface drainage into the structure.
The interior of a structure and its equipment shall be maintained structurally
sound and in a sanitary condition so as not to pose a threat to the health
and safety of the occupants and to protect the occupants from the environment.
The supporting structural members of every building shall be maintained
structurally sound, not showing any evidence of deterioration which would
render them incapable of carrying the imposed loads.
Floors, walls, including windows and doors, ceilings and other interior
surfaces shall be maintained in a good, clean and sanitary condition.
Lead-based paint with a lead content of more than 0.5% shall not be
applied to any interior/exterior surface of a building or dwelling unit, including
fences and outbuildings upon any premises.
Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed
and maintained so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and
sanitary condition.
Cellars, basements and crawl spaces shall be maintained free from standing
water so as to prevent conditions conducive to decay or deterioration of the
structure.
The interior of every structure shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition free of any accumulation of rubbish, refuse or garbage. Rubbish,
garbage and other refuse shall be properly kept inside temporary storage facilities.
Garbage or refuse shall not be allowed to accumulate or be stored in
public halls or stairways.
All structures shall be kept free from insect and rat infestation, and
where insects or rats are found they shall be promptly exterminated by acceptable
processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination,
proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
Every door available as a unit shall be capable of being opened easily
from the inside.
Stairs, porches, railings and other exit facilities shall be adequate
for safety.
All interior stairs and railings and other exit facilities of every
structure shall be maintained in a sound condition and good repair by replacing
treads and risers that evidence excessive wear or are broken, warped or loose.
Every inside stair shall be so constructed and maintained as to be safe to
use and capable of supporting the anticipated loads.
Primary cooking facilities shall not be permitted in any sleeping room
or dormitory room, except for efficiency apartments.
Dwelling units shall be separate and apart from each other. With the
exception of crib rooms or rooms accommodating handicapped individuals, sleeping
rooms shall not be used as the only means of access to other sleeping rooms.
Hotel units, lodging units and dormitory units shall be designed to
provide privacy and be separate from other adjoining spaces.
A habitable room, bathroom or water closet compartment which is accessory
to a dwelling unit shall not open directly into or be used in conjunction
with a food store, barber or beauty shop, doctor's or dentist's examination
or treatment room, or similar room used for public purposes.
Basement and cellar rooms, partially below grade, shall not be used
for sleeping purposes, unless the basement and cellar room or rooms are within
the specification for sleeping rooms as provided for in this chapter.
Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum gross floor area of not
less than 150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each
additional occupant. The floor area shall be calculated on the basis of the
total area of all habitable rooms.
Every room occupied for sleeping purposes shall contain at least 64
square feet of floor area for each occupant.
If any room used for residential purposes is overcrowded as defined
in this chapter, the Building Inspector may order the number of persons sleeping
or living in said room be reduced.
No kitchen, noninhabitable space or public space shall be used for sleeping
purposes.
Habitable rooms shall have a clear ceiling height over the minimum area
required by this chapter of not less seven feet four inches, except in attics,
basements or top-half stories, the ceiling height shall be not less than seven
feet over not less than 1/3 of the minimum area required by this chapter when
used for sleeping, study or similar activity. In calculating the floor area
of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area of the room having a
clear ceiling height of five feet or more shall be included.
Habitable space in a mobile home shall have a minimum ceiling height
of seven feet over 50% of the floor area, and the floor area where the ceiling
height is less than five feet shall not be considered in calculating floor
area.
Every mobile home shall contain a minimum gross floor area of not less
than 150 square feet for the first two occupants and 100 square feet for each
additional occupant.
All spaces used or intended to be used for food preparation shall contain
suitable space and equipment to store, prepare and serve foods in a sanitary
manner. There shall be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal
of food waste and refuse, including facilities for temporary storage where
and when necessary.
