The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter.
(1) Basement shall mean a portion of a dwelling which is located partly underground, having direct access to light and air from windows located above the level of the adjoining ground.
(2) Cellar shall mean a portion of a dwelling which is located partly or wholly underground having an inadequate access to light and air from windows located partly or wholly below the level of the adjoining ground.
(3) Deteriorated shall mean that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation and can be repaired, altered, or improved to comply with all of the minimum standards established by this ordinance at a cost not in excess of fifty percent (50%) of its value, as determined by the finding of the Inspector.
(4) Dilapidated shall mean that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation and cannot be repaired, altered, or improved to comply with all of the minimum standards established by this ordinance except at a cost in excess of fifty percent (50%) of its value, as determined by the finding of the Inspector.
(5) Dwelling shall mean any building, structure, manufactured home, or part thereof which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping or habitation by human occupants, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith, except that it does not include any manufactured home or mobile home, which is used solely for a seasonal vacation purpose. Temporary housing, as hereinafter defined, shall not be regarded as a dwelling. The term shall include within its meaning the terms rooming house and rooming unit, as hereinafter defined.
(6) Dwelling unit shall mean any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
(6a) Manufactured home or mobile home means a structure as defined in G.S. 143-145 (7).
(7) Extermination shall mean the control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, or trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the Inspector.
(8) Garbage shall mean the organic waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
(9) Gender. Words having a masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders.
(10) Habitable room shall mean a room or enclosed floor space use or intended to be used for liking, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, heater rooms, foyers, or communicating corridors, closets and storage spaces.
(11) Infestation shall mean the presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests in such number as to constitute a menace to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or the public.
(12) Inspector shall mean the housing inspector of the city or any authorized agent of the Inspector.
(13) Multiple dwelling shall mean any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
(14) Occupant shall mean any person over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in, or having actual possession of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit.
(15) Operator shall mean any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
(16) Owner shall mean any person who alone, jointly, or severally with other:
a. Shall have title to any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
b. Shall be a mortgagee or record for any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit; or
c. Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit, as owner or agent of the actual owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the actual owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter, and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
(17) Party or parties in interest shall mean all persons who have interests of record in a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit and any persons who are in possession thereof.
(18) Person shall mean any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization or other legal entity.
(19) Plumbing shall mean and include all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas burning equipment, water pipes, mechanical garbage disposal units (mechanical sink grinders), sewage disposal pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.
(20) Public authority shall mean the city housing authority or any officer who is in charge of any department or branch of the government of the city, Catawba County or the State of North Carolina relating to health, fire, building regulations or other activities concerning dwellings in the city.
(21) Rooming houses shall mean any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator to three or more persons who are not husband or wife, son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother of the owner or operator.
(22) Rooming unit shall mean any room or group or rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.
(23) Rubbish shall mean non-organic waste materials. The term shall include paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, and dust.
(24) Supplied shall mean paid for, furnished, or provided by, or under the control of, the owner or operator.
(25) Temporary housing shall mean any tent, trailer or other structure use for temporary shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure, or to any utilities system on the same premises for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.
(26) Unfit for human habitation shall mean the conditions exist in a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit which violate or do not comply with one or more of the minimum standards of fitness or one or more of the requirements established by this chapter.
(27) Words having certain meaning. Whenever the words "dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, premises" are used in this chapter they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof." (Ord. of 10/5/87)