For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACT. Md. Code, Art. 83B, § 6-103.
APPROVED or the phrase WHICH HAVE RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY AND LEGALLY REQUIRED APPROVALS. When used with “building”, “facility”, or “equipment”, any building, facility, or equipment required by this chapter that was constructed or installed in accordance with the standards that applied at the time of construction or installation.
BASEMENT. The portion of a dwelling which is partly or completely below grade and having at least 50% of its floor to ceiling height below finished grade.
BUILDING. That which is built or constructed, including without limitation because of enumeration, buildings, or portions thereof, or any use, or occupancy whatsoever, and any structure thereon.
CENTRAL HEATING. The heating system permanently installed and adjusted so as to provide the distribution of heat to all habitable areas.
COMMON AREA. Any area which the property owner controls, maintains, uses, or has charge of, and is used by a combination of tenants or the property owner in combination with the tenant, including common egress areas such as but not limited to stairways, hallways, fire escapes, and similar areas.
CONDEMN. To declare a premises, or equipment thereon, unsafe or unfit for human use or occupancy.
CONTAMINATION. The introduction into water of any substance, which may transfer infectious agents or other foreign substances (organic, inorganic, radiological, or biological), in concentrations which may constitute a health hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
COUNTY. The Department of Citizen Services, or any agency subsequently designated by the County Commissioners of Carroll County to enforce and administer the Livability Code.
DETERIORATION. A decline in the condition of the premises, building thereon, or equipment thereon such that the condition falls below the standards established by this chapter or any other applicable statutes, codes, and ordinances.
DWELLING. A building containing one or more dwelling units, and shall include but not be limited to a single-family, two-family, multi-family dwelling and rooming house.
DWELLING UNIT. A single housekeeping unit used, intended to be used, rented, leased, let, or hired out to be occupied for human use and occupancy and providing or intended to provide complete facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes for one or more occupants.
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 poison spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other pest elimination methods which have received all necessary and legally required approvals.
GARBAGE. All animal and vegetable waste including that resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food.
HABITABLE AREA. The space in a building used for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, including bathrooms and toilet compartments. Closets, halls, storage, or utility space and similar areas are not HABITABLE AREAS.
INFESTATION. The presence of insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests within or contiguous to a premises.
LEAD-BASED PAINT. Shall have the same meaning prescribed in Md. Code, Environment Article, § 6-801 and COMAR 26.16.02.02.
LEAD-BASED PAINT VIOLATION. Enforcement of this provision shall be by applicable state agencies.
MAINTENANCE. The repair and other acts intended to prevent deterioration of premises, building, or the equipment thereon.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION. Ventilation by power-driven devices.
NATURAL VENTILATION. Ventilation by opening to outer air; air through windows, skylights, doors, louvers, or stacks without power-driven devices.
OCCUPANT. Any person occupying a premises owned by another.
OWNER-OCCUPIED. A dwelling unit, occupied by the owner of the property in fee.
PERSON. Any individual, agent, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate, association, corporation, or employee thereof.
PLUMBING. The materials, facilities, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances within the scope of the Building Code. In appropriate context, this term may mean the work involved in installing, maintaining, extending, or altering PLUMBING.
PLUMBING FIXTURE. A receptacle or device which is either permanently or temporarily connected to the water distribution system of the premises and demands a supply of water therefrom; or discharges used water, liquid-borne waste materials, or sewage either directly or indirectly to the drainage system of the premises; or which requires both a water supply connection and a discharge system.
PREMISES. A lot or parcel of land, including the buildings thereon.
PROPERTY OWNER. Any person having legal title in the premises as recorded among the Land Records of Carroll County including the guardian of the estate of any such person or the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of the premises by a court, but shall not include a mortgagee or the trustees of a deed of trust if the same is used to secure a loan.
ROOMING HOUSE. A building containing one or more rooming units which is used or designed to be used, for compensation, as an abiding place for individuals who are not related to the owner or lessee of the same.
ROOMING UNIT. A single unit within a dwelling and for which the property owner or another receives compensation, which is intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking and eating.
RUBBISH. Refuse composed of paper, rags, cartons or boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery, dust and/or other similar materials, as well as the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke, and other combustible materials.
STAGNANT WATER. Any accumulation of water that has not dispersed within seven days of the last recorded local rainfall.
STRUCTURALLY SOUND. Free of deterioration and maintained capable of safely bearing the dead and live loads imposed upon them in accordance with the Construction Codes.
STRUCTURE. Fences, signs, billboards, fire escapes, chute escapes, railings, water tanks, towers, open grade steps, sidewalks, or stairways, tents or anything erected and framed of component parts which is fastened, anchored, or rests on permanent foundation or on the ground.
TENANT. Any person who has use of a dwelling unit or rooming unit, except a property owner.
UNFIT BUILDING. A building or part thereof which is unfit for human use or occupancy, whenever the Code Official finds that a hazard or other condition exists that is a threat to public life, health, property, or the safety and welfare of the occupants of the premises.
UNFIT PREMISES. A lot or parcel of land or part thereof, which is unfit for human use or occupancy, whenever the Code Official finds that a hazard or other condition exists that is a threat to public life, health, property, or the safety and welfare of the occupants of the premises.
UNSAFE BUILDING. A building or part thereof found by the county to be a hazard to public life, health, property, or the safety of the occupant of the premises because it does not provide minimum protection from fire or because it is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsound, or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that it is likely to partially or completely collapse.
UNSAFE EQUIPMENT. Any boiler, heating equipment, cooking equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid containers, or other equipment on the premises which is in such disrepair or condition that it is found by the county to be a hazard to public life, health, property, the safety, and welfare of the occupant of the premises. UNSAFE EQUIPMENT may contribute to the finding that the building is unsafe or unfit for human use or occupancy.
USE. In addition to its ordinary meaning, includes the right to USE, whether actually used or not.
VENTILATION. The process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space.
WEATHER-TIGHT. Free of holes, breaks, decayed or loose boards, and any other conditions which might admit precipitation or other water seepage to the interior portions.
(2004 Code, § 141-8) (Ord. 70, passed 9-29-1988; Ord. 02-19, passed 11-21-2002; Ord. 2018-06, passed 6-28-2018)