Whenever the words "dwelling", "dwelling units", "rooming units", "premises", or "structure" are used in this chapter, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof". Words used in the singular include the plural, and in the plural the singular; the masculine gender includes the feminine and the feminine the masculine.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE: A detached structure which is not used and not intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants and which is located on the same premises as a principal structure and the use of such accessory structure is incidental to the principal structure.
APPROVED: Approved by the zoning division of the city of Athens, Illinois.
BASEMENT: That portion of a building partly underground by having more than half its clear floor to ceiling height above the average grade of the adjoining ground.
BATHROOM: Enclosed space containing one or more bathtubs, showers, or both, and which may also include toilets, lavatories, or fixtures serving similar purposes.
BUILDING: A combination of any materials, whether portable or fixed, having a roof to form a structure affording shelter for persons, animals or property. The word "building" shall be construed, when used herein, as though followed by the words "or parts thereof" unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
DWELLING: Any building which is wholly or partly used, designed, or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants; provided, that "temporary housing", as defined herein, shall not be regarded as a dwelling.
DWELLING UNIT: Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used, designed, or intended to be used for living, sleeping, working, and eating.
EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS: Open spaces on the premises and vacant open space on adjacent premises.
EXTERMINATION: The control and elimination of insects, rodents, or other pests by eliminating their harborages; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, or trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the proper authorities.
FLOOR AREA: The total horizontal area of habitable space.
GARBAGE: Anything that may decompose and become offensive or dangerous to health including, but not limited to, waste products resulting from the handling, storage, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
GRADE (GROUND LEVEL): The average of the finished ground level. In case walls are parallel to and within five feet (5') of a sidewalk, the said finished ground level shall be measured at the sidewalk.
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, furnace rooms, pantries, and utility rooms of less than fifty (50) square feet, foyers, or communicating corridors, stairways, closets, storage spaces, and workshops, hobby and recreation areas below ground level or in attics.
HOT WATER: Water heated to a temperature of not less than one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (100°F) at the outlet.
HOTEL AND MOTEL: See definition of Rooming House.
INFESTATION: The presence, within or contiguous to a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, multiple dwelling, rooming unit, or premises of insects, rodents, vermin and 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 cold storage of food, cabinets or shelves for storage or cooking equipment and utensils, and counter or table for food preparation.
LEAD BEARING SUBSTANCE: Any paint, plaster, or other material or substance containing more than six-tenths of one percent (0.6%) by weight (calculated as lead metal) in the total nonvolatile content of liquid paints or in the dried film of paint previously applied.
MOBILE HOME: A factory assembled, movable dwelling designed and constructed to be towed on its chassis, comprised of frame wheels, to be used without a permanent foundation, and distinguishable from other types of dwellings in that the standards to which it is built include provisions for its mobility on that chassis as a vehicle. Removal of the tongue, wheels, or hitch, or placement of the structure upon a permanent foundation shall not be considered in determining whether or not a structure is a mobile home.
MULTIPLE DWELLING: Any dwelling containing more than two (2) dwelling units and/or rooming units.
OCCUPANT: Any person 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 multiple dwelling, hotel, motel or rooming house in which dwelling units or rooming units are let or offered for occupancy.
ORDINARY WINTER CONDITIONS: Outside design temperature is minus ten degrees Fahrenheit (-10°F).
OWNER: Any person or entity who shall have a legal, equitable or beneficial interest in the subject real estate, or any improvements thereto; or a reversionary leasehold interest in the subject real estate, or any improvements thereto; or a capacity to manage the subject real estate or any improvements thereto pursuant to an order of court, power, or agreement.
PERMISSIBLE OCCUPANCY: The maximum number of persons permitted to reside in a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
PERSON: Any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership.
PLUMBING: All of the following facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, showers, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, and any other similar equipment and fixtures, and the installation thereof, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.
POTABLE WATER: Water duly approved as satisfactory and safe for drinking by the Illinois environmental protection agency.
PREMISES: A lot, plot or parcel of land including any buildings or structures thereon.
PUBLIC SEWER: A sewerage system operated by the city of Athens, Illinois, and available for public use.
RAT HARBORAGE: Any place where rats can live, nest or find shelter.
RATPROOFING: A form of construction which will prevent the ingress or egress of rats to or from a given space or building, or gaining access to food, water, or rat harborage. Ratproofing consists of the closing and keeping closed of every opening in foundations, basements, cellars, exterior and interior walls, ground or first floors, roofs, sidewalk gratings, sidewalk openings, and other places that may be reached and entered by rats by climbing, burrowing or other methods, by the use of materials impervious to rat gnawing and other methods approved by the appropriate authority.
ROOMING HOUSE: Any dwelling or part of a dwelling containing one or more rooming units in which space is rented by the owner or operator to three (3) or more persons who are not the husband and wife, father or mother, son or daughter, grandparent or grandchild, brother or sister, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece or cousin of the first degree of the owner or operator.
ROOMING UNIT: Any room or group of rooms intended to be used for living or sleeping but not for cooking purposes.
RUBBISH: Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage.
SEWAGE: Waste from a flush toilet, bath, sink, lavatory, or dishwashing or laundry machine, or the water carried waste from any other fixture or equipment or machine.
STRUCTURE: A combination of any materials, whether fixed or portable, forming construction, including buildings. The word structure shall be construed as though followed by the words "or part or parts thereof".
SUPPLIED FACILITIES: Facilities paid for, furnished or provided by, or under the control of the owner or operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING: Any tent, recreational vehicle as defined by 625 Illinois Compiled Statutes 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 for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days.
VENTILATION: Supply and removal of air to and from any space by natural or mechanical means.
VENTILATION, MECHANICAL: Ventilation by opening to outer air through windows, skylights, doors, louvers, or stacks with wind driven devices. (Ord. 01-2014, 6-9-2014, eff. 1-1-2015)