No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or
let to another for occupancy any structure or part thereof unless
that part of the structure and all common parts are in compliance
with the requirements of this section:
A.
Foundation. In all structures the foundation shall
be free from holes and breaks and shall safely support the structure
at all points.
B.
Exterior walls. All exterior walls and trim shall
be free from holes, breaks and loose or rotted boards and all siding
material shall be kept free from defects.
C.
Exterior finish. All exterior walls and trim shall
be kept painted, treated, sided or otherwise maintained so as to be
substantially weatherproof and neat in appearance.
D.
Roofs. The roof shall be structurally sound, tight
and have no defects which might admit rain; roof drainage shall be
adequate to prevent rainwater from causing dampness to the walls or
interior portion of the building.
E.
Chimneys. Chimneys shall be free from cracks, holes,
loose bricks and any blockage.
F.
Porches and stairs. Every exterior stair, porch, balcony
and all appurtenances attached thereto shall be structurally sound
and any part thereof which shows excessive wear or is broken, cracked
or loose shall be repaired or replaced.
G.
Carpeting. Carpeting or other covering on stairs and
porches shall be maintained in a safe condition.
H.
Handrails and guardrails. Every flight of stairs which
is over two risers high shall have at least one handrail. Every open
portion of a stair, porch, landing or balcony which is more than 30
inches above the floor or grade below shall have guardrails which
shall have no openings through which a nine-inch sphere can pass or
as safety requires. All handrails and guardrails shall be firmly fastened
and maintained in good condition.
I.
Doorways. Every exterior doorway shall have a door
which shall be weathertight within its frame.
J.
Doors. Every exterior door, door hinge, door knob,
door frame 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.
K.
Door closing devices. All common exterior doors shall
have automatic door closing devices.
L.
Exit doors. Every door available as an exit shall
be capable of being opened from the inside easily and without the
use of a key.
M.
Hatchways. Every hatchway shall be so constructed
and maintained as to prevent the entrance of rodents, rainwater and
surface drainage water into the structure.
N.
Windows to be tight. Every window sash shall be structurally
sound and fit within its frame so as to prevent outside elements from
passing through.
O.
Windows to be glazed. Every window sash shall be fully
fitted with glass, plexiglass or polycarbonate panes which are without
cracks or holes.
P.
Windows to be openable. In every window other than
in a fixed window, the lower sash shall be capable of being easily
opened and shall be capable of being held in the open position by
window hardware.
Q.
Insect screens. From May 15 to October 15 of each
year, every window used for ventilation purposes shall be supplied
with window screens, except that no such screens shall be required
for a dwelling unit on a floor above the fifth floor.
No person shall let for occupancy any structure
or part thereof unless that part of the structure and all common parts
are in compliance with the requirements of this section:
A.
Structural members. The supporting structural members
of every building shall be maintained structurally sound and shall
be reinforced or replaced when deterioration or defects exist which
could render them unsafe.
B.
Dampness prevention. In every building, cellars, basements
and crawl spaces shall be maintained free from dampness conducive
to decay or deterioration of the structure.
C.
Stairs. All interior stairs shall be maintained structurally
sound, and every part thereof which shows excessive wear or which
is broken, warped, cracked or loose shall be repaired or replaced.
D.
Handrails and guardrails. Every flight of stairs which
is more than two risers high shall have at least one handrail. Every
open portion of a stair, porch, landing or balcony which is more than
30 inches above the floor shall have guardrails which shall have no
openings through which a nine-inch sphere can pass. All handrails
and guardrails shall be firmly fastened and maintained in good condition.
E.
Doors. Every exit access door, door hinge, door knob,
door frame and door latch shall be maintained in good condition. Door
locks in dwelling units and lodging units shall be in good repair
and capable of tightly securing the door.
F.
Interior surfaces. Floors, walls (including windows
and doors), ceilings and other interior surfaces shall be maintained
in good, clean and sanitary condition. Peeling paint, cracked or loose
plaster, decayed wood and other defective surface conditions shall
be eliminated.
G.
Sanitation of dwelling units. It shall be the responsibility
of the occupant or occupants thereof to maintain the interior of every
dwelling unit in a clean and sanitary condition.
H.
Sanitation of common areas. It shall be the responsibility
of the owner thereof to maintain all common areas of a structure in
a clean and sanitary condition.
I.
Floor coverings. Carpeting, linoleum or other covering
on stairs and floors shall be maintained in a safe condition.
J.
Bathroom and kitchen floors. Every toilet room, bathroom
and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as
to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor
to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
K.
Storage of garbage or rubbish. Garbage, rubbish or
hazardous items shall not be allowed to accumulate or be stored in
common corridors or stairways.
L.
Rodent and insect protection. All structures shall
be kept free from the infestation of insects, rodents and other pests,
and where such infestation exists the insects, rodents or other pests
shall be promptly exterminated by an accepted process. After extermination,
approved precautions must be taken to prevent reinfestation. In the
case of a rodent infestation the structure must be rodentproofed.
M.
Responsibility for eradication of pests. When an infestation
is limited to a single dwelling unit, responsibility under this section
lies with the occupant thereof. When an infestation occurs in more
than one dwelling unit of a structure, or in the common areas of a
structure, responsibility under this section shall lie with the owner.
N.
Dwelling unit identification. Each dwelling or lodging
unit shall have a number assigned and displayed on all unit exit access
doors, with said identification prominently displayed.
No person shall occupy as owner occupant, let
to another for occupancy or maintain any structure or premise or part
thereof unless that part of the structure and all common parts are
in compliance with the requirements of this article.
A.
Sanitation. All exterior property areas shall be maintained
in a clean and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of rubbish
or garbage.
B.
Accessory structure. All accessory structures, including detached garages, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair and they shall conform to the requirements of § 182-28 of this chapter.
C.
Unregistered motor vehicles. No more than one currently
unregistered or uninspected, ungaraged motor vehicle shall be located
on any residential lot. A motor vehicle failing to display a currently
valid registration plate or inspection sticker shall be deemed to
be unregistered or uninspected for the purpose of this section.
D.
Sidewalks and public areas. All sidewalks, walkways,
steps and driveways shall be kept free of snow, ice and other debris
hazardous to the public.
E.
Public nuisance. All premises shall be maintained
free from public nuisance.
[Amended 5-13-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-18[1]]
A.
Posting of owner's emergency information and Code
Enforcement Department information.
(1)
All dwellings which are let or in which one or more
units are let to another for occupancy shall have posted in a regularly
accessible common area written notification containing the following:
(a)
The name, address, and telephone number of the
owner or his/her agent. If the owner or his/her agent does not reside
in New Hampshire and within 25 miles of the subject structure, the
owner must post, in addition to his/her or his/her agent's name, the
name, address, and telephone number of a person to contact in case
of an emergency who resides in New Hampshire and within 25 miles of
the structure.
(b)
A statement that disputes regarding building
code and/or housing standards should first be addressed by the property
owner(s) and tenant(s) before contacting the Code Enforcement Department.
(c)
A statement that the party or parties responsible
for compliance with building codes or housing standards should correct
a violation within 14 days of receipt of a written notice of said
violation or, in an emergency, as promptly as conditions require.
An "emergency" exists when a violation of a building code and/or housing
standard creates conditions which pose an immediate and serious threat
to the health or safety of persons occupying a dwelling unit. A "nonemergency"
situation exists when a violation of a building code and/or housing
standard materially affects the habitability of a dwelling place but
does not pose an immediate risk to the health or safety of the tenant(s).
(d)
The address, telephone number(s) and website
address of the Code Enforcement Department.
(2)
Exception. In lieu of posting the written notification,
an owner may maintain copies of said notification signed by each tenant.
An owner shall file a copy of the written notification containing
the required owner's emergency information with the Code Enforcement
Department. An owner shall, upon request, provide copies of the signed
written notification to Code Enforcement Department employees for
review.
B.
The Code Enforcement Department shall prepare a written
notification form which shall be provided to owners upon request.
C.
Transfer of ownership. Upon transfer of ownership,
the new owner shall comply with the posting or filing of emergency
and Code Enforcement Department information within 24 hours of transfer.
D.
Unattended emergency numbers. Whenever emergency numbers
are left unattended for a period of 24 hours or longer, another name
and emergency number shall be provided in accordance with this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided
that it shall become effective 9-1-2008.
