The following definitions will apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this chapter.
BASEMENT
A space of full-story height below the first floor which is not designed
or used primarily for year-round living accommodations. Space, partly below
grade, which is designed and finished as habitable space is not defined as
basement space. (Reference: See Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter 21 for
definitions and standards for habitable rooms. This shall be referred to throughout
this chapter.)
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector of the city or his duly authorized representative.
CELLAR
A portion of a building located partly or wholly underground and
having 2/3 or more of its clear floor-to-ceiling height above the average
grade of the adjoining ground. (See "basement" for reference.)
DWELLING
Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used
for living or sleeping by human occupants, provided that temporary housing
as hereinafter defined shall not be regarded as a dwelling.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming
a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used
for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by
eliminating their harborage places, by removing or making inaccessible materials
which may serve as their food, by poisoning, spraying, fumigating or trapping
or by other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the
Building Inspector.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation,
cooking and consumption of food.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room or other enclosed floor space used or intended to be used
for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water
closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating corridors,
closets and storage space.
INFESTATION
The presence within or around a dwelling of any insects, rodents
or other pests.
OCCUPANT
Any person over one year of age living, sleeping, cooking or eating
in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building or part
thereof in which dwelling units or rooming units are offered for rent.
ORDINARY MINIMUM WINTER CONDITIONS
The temperature which is 15° F. above the lowest recorded temperature
for the previous ten-year period (lowest temperature 19° F.). Figure a
winter base temperature of not less than 15° F. with inside room temperature
of +70° F. minimum for range (bathroom +80° F.).
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
(1)
Shall have legal title to any dwelling unit, with or without accompanying
actual possession thereof, provided that whenever the dwelling or dwelling
unit is subject to conditional sales contract, lease with option to purchase
or any other form of written contract under the terms of which any person
is entitled to a conveyance of legal title upon payment of a specified sum,
"owner" shall mean the person who shall have such a contractual right rather
than the person who is holding the legal title; or
(2)
Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as executor, executrix, trustee, receiver or guardian of the owner as defined in Subsection
(1). Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with this chapter to the same extent as if he were the owner. Any person acting as the agent of the owner shall not be construed to be the owner within the terms of this chapter but shall be bound to notify the owner, by means of a registered letter addressed to the owner at his last known address, of any order or notice to be issued by the Building Inspector relating to the property of the owner.
PERSON
Includes any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership.
PLUMBING
Includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment:
gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal equipment,
waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs,
shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents,
floor drains, laundry traps, drinking fountains, gutters, downspouts, area
drains, lines, sanitary and storm sewer systems, subsoil drainage and any
other supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or
gas lines.
ROOMING HOUSE
Any dwelling or that part of any dwelling containing one or more
rooming units in which space is let by the owner or operator to five or more
persons who are not husband or wife, sister or brother, son or daughter or
father or mother of the owner or operator.
ROOMING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or
intended to be used for living and sleeping but not for cooking or eating
purposes.
RUBBISH
Combustible or noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, and
the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and
other combustible material, paper, rag, cartons, boxes, wood excelsior, trimmings,
leaves, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery or dust.
SUPPLIED
Paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of the owner
or operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING
Any tent, trailer or other structure used for human shelter which
is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to
another structure or to any utility system on the same premises for more than
30 consecutive days.