In this chapter:
(1) BASIC PROPERTY means a vacant building or vacant lot which has two non-complied property maintenance violations within any six-month period.
(2) BUILDING means a structure for the support or shelter of any use or occupancy.
(3) CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT means the area of the city bounded by Woodall Rodgers Freeway on the north, Central Expressway (elevated bypass) on the east, R. L. Thornton Freeway on the south, and Stemmons Freeway on the west.
(4) CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION means a certificate of registration issued by the director under this chapter to the owner or operator of a vacant building.
(5) DIRECTOR means the director of the department designated by the city manager to enforce and administer this chapter and includes any representatives, agents, or department employees designated by the director.
(6) DWELLING UNIT means one or more rooms designed to be a single housekeeping unit to accommodate one family and containing one or more kitchens, one or more bathrooms, and one or more bedrooms.
(7) OCCUPIED means that one or more persons conduct business in or reside in at least 50 percent of the total area of a building (excluding stairwells, elevator shafts, and mechanical rooms) as the legal or equitable owner, operator, lessee, or invitee on a permanent, nontransient basis pursuant to and within the scope of a valid certificate of occupancy.
(8) OWNER means a person in whom is vested the ownership or title of real property:
(A) including, but not limited to:
(i) the holder of fee simple title;
(ii) the holder of a life estate;
(iii) the holder of a leasehold estate for an initial term of five years or more;
(iv) the buyer in a contract for deed;
(v) a mortgagee, receiver, executor, or trustee in control of real property; and
(vi) the named grantee in the last recorded deed; and
(B) not including the holder of a leasehold estate or tenancy for an initial term of less than five years.
(9) PERSON means any individual, corporation, organization, partnership, association, governmental entity, or any other legal entity.
(10) PREMISES or PROPERTY means a lot, plot, or parcel of land, including any structures on the land.
(11) PROBLEM PROPERTY means a vacant building or vacant lot which has three or more non-complied property maintenance violations within any six-month period.
(12) PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATION means any violation of the city code involving high weeds; litter; obstructions of alleys, sidewalks, or streets; signs on a public right of way; bulky trash; substandard structures; junk motor vehicles; illegal dumping; illegal outside storage; and graffiti.
(13) REGISTRANT means a person issued a certificate of registration for a vacant building or vacant lot under this chapter.
(14) STRUCTURE means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
(15) VACANT BUILDING means a building that, regardless of its structural condition, is not occupied.
(16) VACANT LOT means any parcel of real property that is not improved with a permitted structure. (Ord. Nos. 27248; 32145)