Whenever a petition is filed with the public officer by a public authority or by at least five residents of the city charging that any structure is unfit for human occupancy or use, or whenever it appears to the public officer (on his or her own motion) that any structure is unfit for human occupation or use, the public officer 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 in interest of, the structure a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the public officer (or his or her designated agent) at a place therein fixed, not less than ten days, nor more than 30 days, after the service of the complaint; and the owner and parties in interest shall have the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint; and the rules of evidence prevailing in court of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the public officer.
(1989 Code, § 13-204)