13-12-020 Code violations – Liability.

   Unless otherwise specifically provided, the owner, his agent for the purpose of managing, controlling or collecting rents and any other person managing or controlling a building or premises in any part of which there is a violation of the provisions of this Code enumerated in Section 13-12-010, shall be liable for any violation therein, existing or occurring, or which may have existed or occurred, at or during any time when such person is or was the person owning or managing, controlling, or acting as agent in regard to said buildings or premises and is subject to injunctions, abatement orders or other remedial orders. Wherever used in said provisions of this Code, the “owner” shall include any person entitled under any agreement to the control or direction of the management or disposition of the building or premises or of any part of the building or premises where the violation in question occurs.

   The liabilities and obligations hereunder imposed on an owner shall attach to a trustee under a land trust, holding title to such building, structure or premises without the right of possession, management or control, unless said trustee in a proceeding under said provisions of this Code discloses in a verified pleading or in an affidavit filed with the court, the name and last known address of each person who was a beneficiary of the trust at the time of the alleged violation and of each person, if any, who was then acting as agent for the purpose of managing, controlling or collecting rents, as the same may appear on the records of the trust.

   The liabilities and obligations imposed on an owner shall attach to any mortgage company or any other person with or without an interest in the building or premises who knowingly takes any action in any judicial or administrative proceeding that is intended to delay issuance or enforcement of any remedy for any violation of the Building Code then in existence; provided that with respect to fines such person shall be liable only for fines which accrue on or after the date of such action; and further provided that no liability shall be imposed under this section for any action taken in any proceeding, including a proceeding to foreclose on a lien, that does not delay or prevent the prosecution of any action brought by the city to enforce the Building Code.

(Prior code § 39-2; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-00, p. 29471, § 1)