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Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair or limit, in any way, the town's power to define and declare nuisances and to cause their abatement by summary action or otherwise, nor shall enforcement of any remedy provided herein prevent the enforcement of the other remedies provided herein.
(Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021)
REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR STRUCTURES
(A)
The Housing Inspector shall determine that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation if he or she finds any of the following conditions:
(1) Interior load-bearing members or non-load-bearing members which seriously list, lean or buckle and/or in the opinion of the Housing Inspector show damage or deterioration to an extent as to render the building unsafe;
(2) External load-bearing members or non-load bearing members which seriously list, lean or buckle and/or in the opinion of the Housing Inspector show damage or deterioration to an extent as to render the building unsafe;
(3) Floors or roofs which have improperly distributed loads, which are overloaded, or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used;
(4) Damage by fire, wind or other causes as to render the building unsafe;
(5) Dilapidation, decay, unsanitary conditions or disrepair which is dangerous to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or other people in the town;
(6) Inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic;
(7) Defects significantly increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities;
(8) Lack of adequate ventilation, light, heating or sanitary facilities to an extent as to endanger the health, safety or general welfare of the occupants or other residents of the town; and/or
(9) Lack of proper electrical, heating or plumbing facilities required by this code which constitutes a health or a definite safety hazard.
(B) Irrespective of the above, a dwelling unit shall be construed by the Housing Inspector to be unfit for human habitation, and he or she shall so find if the dwelling unit contains more than seven separate types of violations of any of the minimum standards set forth in this code.
(Ord. passed 7-21-2016; Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021)
Penalty, see § 151.99
(Ord. passed 7-21-2016; Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021)
Penalty, see § 151.99
No person shall occupy, as owner-occupant, or let or sublet or offer to let or sublet to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit designed or intended to be used for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein, which does not comply with the following requirements.
(A) Foundation. The building foundation walls, piers or other elements shall be maintained in a safe manner and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(B) Exterior walls. The exterior walls shall be substantially weather-tight and shall be made impervious to the adverse effects of weather and be maintained in sound condition and good repair.
(C) Roofs. Roofs shall be maintained in a safe manner and have no defects which might admit rain or cause dampness in the walls or interior portion of the building.
(D) Means of egress. Every dwelling unit shall have two safe, unobstructed means of egress with minimum ceiling height of seven feet (84 inches) leading to a safe and open space at ground level. Exceptions: only one exit may be required if an exception is specifically addressed in the State Building Code and all the requirements and terms of that section are met. (This exception is not applicable if in the opinion of the Housing Inspector unusually hazardous conditions exist and additional means of egress facilities are required when necessary to assure the safety of the occupants.)
(E) Stairs. Every inside and outside stair shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon; and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(F) Porches and appurtenances. Every outside porch and any appurtenance thereto shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(G) Windows and doors. Every window, exterior door and basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be substantially weather-tight, water-tight and rodent-proof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
(H) Windows to be glazed. Window panes or an approved substitute shall be maintained without cracks or holes which allow passage of air.
(I) Window sash. Window sash shall be properly fitted and weather-tight within the window frame.
(J) Hardware. Every exterior door shall be provided with proper hardware and maintained in good condition.
(K) Door frames. Every exterior door shall fit reasonably well within its frame so as to substantially exclude rain and wind from entering the dwelling building.
(L) Screens. Every window or other device with opening to outdoor space, used or intended to be used for ventilation, shall have screens, tight fitting, free of holes and not nailed to window or sash, except as follows: Exception: dwellings containing central heating furnaces and adequate cooling equipment for mechanically ventilating the building year round are not required to have screens on window openings.
(M) Accessory structures. Garages, storage buildings and other accessory structures shall be maintained and kept in good repair and sound structural condition.
(N) Interior floors, walls and partitions. Every floor, wall or partition shall be substantially rodent- proof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(O) Ceilings. Every interior ceiling shall be substantially rodent-proof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(P) Structural supports. Every structural element of the dwelling shall be structurally sound and show no evidence of deterioration which would render it incapable of carrying loads which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(Q) Protective railings. Protective railings shall be required on any unenclosed structure over 36 inches above adjacent finish grade or on any steps containing four risers or more. Interior stairs and stairwells more than four risers high shall have handrails located in accordance with requirements of the Building Code. Handrails or protective railings shall be capable of bearing normally imposed loads and be maintained in good condition.
(Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021) Penalty,
see § 151.99
(A) Required space in dwelling unit. Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of floor space for the first occupant thereof and at least 100 additional square feet of floor area per each additional occupant.
(B) Required space in sleeping rooms. In every dwelling unit of two or more rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
(C) Minimum ceiling height. At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room, foyer, hall or corridor shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet; and the floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than seven feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof.
(D) Occupancy of dwelling unit below grade. No basement or cellar space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless meeting all specifications for habitable rooms.
(Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021) Penalty,
see § 151.99
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