The description of an unsafe building contained in I.C. 36-7-9-4 is supplemented to provide minimum standards for building condition or maintenance in the Town of Bainbridge, Indiana, by adding the following definition:
UNSAFE BUILDING. Any building or structure which has any or all of the conditions or defects hereinafter described, provided that conditions or defects exist to the extent that 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 of 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 walking surface of any aisle, passageway, stairway, or other means of exit is so warped, worn, loose, torn, or otherwise unsafe as not to provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic;
(3) Whenever the stress in any materials, member, or portion thereof, due to all dead and live loads, is more than 1-1/2 times the working stress or stresses allowed for new buildings of similar structure, purpose, or location;
(4) Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, or by any other cause, to the extent that the structural 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;
(5) Whenever any portion, member or appurtenance thereof is likely to fail, to become detached or dislodged, or to collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property;
(6) 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 1/2 of that specified for new buildings of similar structure, purpose, or location without exceeding the working stresses permitted for those buildings;
(7) Whenever any portion thereof has wracked, warped, buckled, or settled to the 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;
(8) Whenever the building or structure, or any portion thereof, because of any of the following is likely to collapse partially or completely:
(a) Dilapidation, deterioration, or decay;
(b) Faulty construction;
(c) The removal, movement, or instability of any portion of the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting the building;
(d) The deterioration, decay, or inadequacy of its foundation; or
(e) Any other cause.
(9) Whenever, for any reasons, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose for which it is being used;
(10) Whenever the exterior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean, or buckle to the extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity does not fall inside the middle 1/3 of the base;
(11) 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 members, enclosing or outside walls or coverings;
(12) 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 either:
(a) An attractive nuisance to children; or
(b) Freely accessible to persons for the purpose of committing unlawful acts.
(13) 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 town, or of any law or ordinance of this state or town relating to the condition, location, or structure of buildings;
(14) 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 50%, or in any supporting 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;
(15) Whenever a building or structure, used or intended to be used, for dwelling purposes, because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, damage, faulty construction or arrangement, inadequate light, air or sanitation facilities, or otherwise, is determined by the Putnam County Sanitarian to be unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, or in such a condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease;
(16) Whenever any building or structure, because of obsolescence, dilapidated condition, deterioration, damage, inadequate exits, or lack of sufficient fire-resistive construction is determined by the Building Commissioner to be a fire hazard; and/or
(17) 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 a period in excess of 6 months so as to constitute the building or portion thereof an attractive nuisance or hazard to the public.
(1996 Code, § 7-35) (Ord. 1988-3, § 6, passed 5-12-1988)