The description of an unsafe building in I.C. 36-7-9-4 is hereby supplemented to provide minimum standards for building conditions or maintenance in the town, by adding the following definition:
UNSAFE BUILDING. Any building or structure which has any or all of the conditions or defects hereinafter described shall be determined to be an unsafe building, provided that the conditions or defects exist and the life, health, property, or safety of the public or its occupants are endangered:
(1) Whenever any door, aisle, passageway, or other means of exit is not a sufficient width or size or is not so arranged as to provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic;
(2) Whenever the stress in any materials, member, or portion thereof, due to all dead and live loads, is more than one and one-half times the working stress or stresses allowed for new buildings or similar structure, purpose, or location;
(3) Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, or by any other cause, to such an extent that the structure, strength, or stability thereof is materially less than it was before the catastrophe and is less than the minimum requirements for new buildings of similar structure, purpose, or location;
(4) Whenever any portion, member, or appurtenance thereof is likely to fall, to become detached or dislodged, or to collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property;
(5) Whenever any portion of a building, or any member, appurtenance, or ornamentation on the exterior thereof, is not of sufficient strength or stability or is not so anchored, attached, or fastened in place so as to be capable of resisting a wind pressure of one-half of that specified for new buildings or similar structure, purpose, or location without exceeding the working stresses permitted for such buildings;
(6) Whenever any portion thereof is cracked, warped, buckled, or settled to such an extent that walls or other structural portions have materially less resistance to winds or earthquakes than is required in the case of similar new construction;
(7) Whenever the building or structure, or any portion thereof, because of dilapidation; deterioration or decay; faulty construction; the deterioration, decay, or inadequacy of its foundation; the removal, movement, or instability of any portion of the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting the building; or any other cause, is likely to partially or completely collapse;
(8) Whenever, for any reason, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose for which it is being used;
(9) Whenever the exterior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean, or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity does not fall inside the middle one-third of the base;
(10) Whenever the building or structure, exclusive of the foundation, shows 33% or more damage or deterioration of its supporting member or members or 50% damage or deterioration of its nonsupporting member or members, enclosing or outside walls or coverings;
(11) Whenever the building or structure has been so damaged by fire, wind, earthquake, or flood or has become so dilapidated or deteriorated so as to become an attractive nuisance to children, freely accessible to persons for the purpose of committing unlawful acts, or a harbor for vagrants, criminals, or immoral persons;
(12) Whenever any building or structure has been constructed, exists, or is maintained in violation of any specific requirement or prohibition applicable to the building or structure provided by the building regulations of this town, or of any law or ordinance of this state or county relating to the condition, location, or structure of buildings;
(13) Whenever any building or structure which, whether or not erected in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinances, has in any nonsupporting part, member, or portion, less than 66% of the strength, fire-resisting qualities or characteristics, or weather-resisting qualities or characteristics required by law in the case of a newly constructed building of like area, height, and occupancy in the same location;
(14) Whenever a building or structure, used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, damage, faulty construction or arrangements, inadequate light, air, or sanitation facilities, or otherwise, is determined by the building inspector to be unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, or in a condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease;
(15) Whenever any building or structure, because of obsolescence, dilapidated condition, deterioration, damage, inadequate exits, lack of sufficient fire-resistive construction, faulty electric wiring, gas connections, or heating apparatus, or other cause, is determined by the building inspector to be a fire hazard;
(16) Whenever any portion of a building or structure remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of the building or structure, or whenever any building or structure is abandoned for period in excess of six months, so as to constitute an attractive nuisance or hazard to the public; or
(17) Whenever any building or structure is in a condition so as to constitute a public nuisance known to the common law or equity jurisprudence.
(Ord. 90-BC-1, passed 5-1-90)