(a) In General. The interior of a structure and the equipment therein shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound and in a sanitary condition. Every occupant shall keep that part of the structure which such occupant occupies or controls in a clean and sanitary condition. Every owner of a structure containing a rooming house, a hotel, a dormitory, two or more dwelling units or two or more nonresidential occupancies, shall maintain, in a clean and sanitary condition, the shared or public areas of the structure and exterior property.
(b) Structural Members. The supporting structural members of every structure shall be maintained structurally sound, and be capable of supporting the imposed loads.
(c) Interior Surfaces. All interior surfaces, including windows and doors, shall be maintained in good, clean and sanitary condition. Peeling paint, cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood and other defective surface conditions shall be corrected.
(d) Lead-based Paint. Interior and exterior painted surfaces of dwellings and child and day care facilities, including fences and outbuildings, which contain in excess of 0.06 percent lead by weight shall be removed or covered in an approved manner. Any surface to be covered shall first be marked with warnings as to the lead content of such surface.
(e) Stairs and Railings. All interior stairs and railings shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair.
(f) Handrails and Guards. Every handrail and guard shall be firmly fastened and capable of supporting normally imposed loads and shall be maintained in good condition.
(g) Locked Doors. All means of egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort.
(h) Locks Permitted. Locks or fasteners shall not be installed on egress doors except in the following circumstances:
(1) In mental, penal or other institutions where the security of inmates is necessary, locks are permitted, provided that properly trained supervisory personnel shall be continuously on duty and approved provisions are made to remove occupant's safety in case of fire or other emergency situations.
(2) In problem security areas, special-purpose door alarms or locking devices are permitted if they are approved prior to installation. Manually operated edge or surface-molded flush bolts are prohibited.
(3) Where the door hardware conforms to that permitted by the Building Code
(i) Smoke Detectors Required. Smoke detectors are required in each dwelling unit for all residential uses. The smoke detectors shall be either the ionization or photoelectric type capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and providing an approved alarm signal. Owners are responsible for installation of required smoke detectors. Occupants are responsible to maintain the installed smoke detectors. Failure to install or maintain smoke detectors as and where required will subject the owner or tenant to the penalties of Section 1365.99.
(j) Smoke Detectors; Location.
(1) Smoke detectors shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate proximity of the bedrooms. At least one smoke detector shall be installed in or near each stairway leading up to an occupied area in such a manner as to assure that rising smoke is not obstructed in reaching the detector and the detector intercepts rising smoke before it reaches the occupied area, excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics.
(2) For family units with split levels which are defined as adjacent levels with less than one full story separation between levels, a smoke detector is required outside of each separate sleeping area, in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on every other floor level without an intervening door.
(k) Smoke Detectors; Alternatives. Where smoke detectors are installed as part of an approved fire protection system, the requirements for single station smoke detectors may be set aside. An approved system is defined as a combination of devices that meet the requirements of this chapter and are installed in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Standard.
(l) Smoke Detectors; Equipment.
(1) All devices, combination of devices and equipment required by this chapter are to be installed in conformance with the Building Code and this chapter, and approved and listed by Underwriters' Laboratory (U.L.) for the purpose in which they are intended. The Fire Marshal may in any such case determine whether replacement of existing installation is required.
(2) In existing dwellings which are required to have smoke detectors installed, smoke detectors may be battery operated.
(m) Smoke Detectors; Maintenance.
(1) In one, two and three family dwellings, the occupants are responsible for operation and maintenance of the detector(s). Owners shall be responsible for operation and maintenance of detectors in all other residential uses.
(2) It is unlawful for an occupant or owner to remove or render a smoke detector(s) inoperative.
(Ord. 2019-5. Passed 2-25-19.)