Whenever a petition is filed with the Housing Inspector by at least five residents of the municipality charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation or is an unsafe abandoned structure, or whenever either of the foregoing appears to the Housing Inspector (on his or her own motion), the Housing Inspector shall, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for the charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties having an interest in the dwelling or abandoned structure, a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that an administrative hearing will be held before the Housing Inspector (or his or her designated agent) at a place within the jurisdiction in which the property is located therein fixed not less than ten days, nor more than 30 days, after the serving of the complaint. The owner and parties in interest shall be given a right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint. The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in administrative hearings before the Housing Inspector.
(Ord. passed 7-21-2016; Ord. PL05268-110121, passed 12-8-2021)