The Housing Officer is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate such written rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper interpretation and administration of the provisions of this code, provided that such rules and regulations do not conflict with this code and conform to the general standards prescribed by this code. The Housing Officer shall file copies of such rules and regulations with the City Clerk and shall make available in the Housing Officer's office a copy for inspection by the public.
The Housing Officer shall have the power to modify or vary provisions of this code if:
A. 
The strict enforcement of the provisions of this code would require the installation of repairs and improvements estimated to exceed $300 in cost, and the premises subject to this code are contemplated for acquisition or are within an area where acquisition is contemplated by a public agency having the power of eminent domain and there is a reasonable likelihood that the said premises will be acquired within a period of one year; provided, however, that any waiver of the provisions of this code shall be canceled and the Housing Officer shall strictly enforce the code if it shall be ascertained, subsequent to the granting of the waiver, that the premises are in fact not to be acquired for any public use or purpose.
B. 
Strict compliance with this code would require substantial structural changes to the premises, and the nonconformity is of a technical and insubstantial character or there is an alternative means satisfactory to the Housing Officer to be used, which will eliminate violations of this code constituting hazards to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of the premises and persons in the immediate vicinity thereof.
Upon denial of any such application, the owner, operator or applicant may request a hearing which shall be held in accordance with provisions of § 219-154.
Such application shall not constitute a defense of any violation of this code concerning which any proceedings are pending in the Municipal Court when the application is filed, nor shall any variance or modification allowed hereunder constitute a vested right against any ordinance enacted hereinafter by the City Council compelling strict enforcement of any provisions of this code.
Where variations or modifications are approved of any section of this code by the Housing Officer or by action of any court, a written record thereof stating the name of the applicant, the address of the premises, the variation or modification approved, date of approval and the reasons therefor, satisfying the provisions contained herein, shall be prepared by the Housing Officer and filed both under the section or sections of this code to which the variation or modification applies and under the address of the premises, and such files shall be available for public inspection in the office of the Housing Officer during the regular business hours.
The Housing Officer shall, in the month of December of each year, review with the City Counsel the procedures and operation of this code and report to the Mayor and City Council on or before January 1:
A. 
Any recommended amendment, addition or modification of provisions of this code consonant with the field experience of the personnel charged with the enforcement.
B. 
A summary of the enforcement experience, indicating the number of violations abated, the number of cases processed in the Municipal Court, the number of inspections made and such other and further pertinent information as will provide the Mayor and Council with an annual account of progress in securing the standards required by this code.
C. 
Any further recommendation as to how the code and procedure and operations thereunder can be improved.