The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE: A subordinate structure which is not used for living by human occupants.
BASEMENT: A portion of a building located partly underground, but having less than half (1/2) its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
BLIGHT: A state of physical deterioration of premises which is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease and/or degradation of neighborhood property values.
CELLAR: A portion of a building located partly or wholly underground and having half (1/2) or more than half (1/2) of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: The supervisor of housing and building inspectors.
DETERIORATION: The condition or appearance of a building or part thereof, characterized by breaks, holes, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting or other evidence of physical decay or neglect.
DORMITORY: A room or group of rooms in any dwelling unit for living and sleeping but not cooking purposes for four (4) or more persons.
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 that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the deputy director.
FAMILY: One or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, occupying a dwelling unit as an individual housekeeping organization. A family may include two (2) additional persons not related by blood, marriage or adoption. Foster children, who are legal wards of the court, are construed as adopted children for purposes of enumeration.
FLUSH WATER CLOSET: A toilet bowl flushed with water under pressure with a water sealed trap above the floor level.
GARBAGE: The vegetable and animal waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food, from whatever source.
HABITABLE ROOM: A room or 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 spaces.
HEATED WATER: Water heated to a temperature of not less than one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120°F) at the outlet.
INFESTATION: The presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests.
KITCHEN: Any room containing any or all of the following equipment, or any area of a room within three feet (3') of such equipment; sink or other device for dishwashing, stove or other device for cooking, refrigerator or other device for cool storage of food, cabinets or shelves for storage of equipment and utensils, and counter or table for food preparation.
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY: The maximum number of persons permitted to reside in a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
MULTIPLE DWELLING: Any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units.
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 let.
ORDINARY MAXIMUM SUMMER CONDITIONS: A temperature of ninety five degrees Fahrenheit (95°F).
ORDINARY MINIMUM WINTER CONDITIONS: A temperature of minus five degrees Fahrenheit (-5°F).
OWNER: Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with:
A. Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
B. Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate 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 units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.
PREMISES: A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure including any such building, accessory structure or other structure thereon.
PRIVACY: The existence of conditions which will permit a person or persons to carry out an activity without interruption or interference, either by sight or sound or by unwanted persons.
RAT HARBORAGE: Any place where rats may live, nest or seek shelter.
REPAIR: To restore to a state of operation, serviceability or appearance free from defect or decay.
REPLACE: To remove an existing item or portion of a system and to construct or install a new or used item of similar or improved quality as the existing item when new. Replacement will ordinarily take place when the item is irreparable.
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 three (3) or more persons who are not husband or wife, son or daughter, mother or father, or sister or brother 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 and noncombustible waste materials except garbage; and the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material; paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery, etc.
RUBBISH CONTAINER: A watertight container with tight fitting lid for the temporary storage of garbage and rubbish that is constructed of metal, or other durable material impervious to rodents, that is capable of being serviced without creating unsanitary conditions.
SAFETY: The condition of being free from danger and hazards which may cause accidents or disease.
SCOPE OF CERTAIN WORDS: When the words "dwelling", "dwelling unit", "nondwelling structure", "rooming house", "rooming unit", and "premises", are used in this Chapter, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof".
SPACE HEATER: A self-contained heating appliance of either the circulating type or the radiant type and intended primarily to heat only one room.
STRUCTURE: Anything constructed or erected which requires location on the ground or is attached to something on the ground, including a fence or freestanding wall.
SUBSTRUCTURE: All dwellings which do not conform to the minimum standards established by this Chapter and by any other provision of this Code or other ordinances.
SUPPLIED: Paid for, furnished, or provided by or under the control of, the owner or manager/operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING: Any tent, trailer, or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not permanently attached to the ground, or to another structure, or to any utilities system on the same premises for more than two (2) consecutive days. (Ord. 4267, 1-11-1978; amd. Ord. 4356, 10-11-1978; Ord. 5503, 12-19-1990; 1999 Code; Ord. 7748, 3-26-2020)