(a) General Requirements.
(1) No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy, any structure, accessory structure or portion thereof which does not comply with the standards set forth in this chapter.
(2) All structures and accessory structures shall be maintained in good repair and free from health, safety and fire hazards.
(3) All repairs or corrections mandated by this Code shall be in a workmanlike manner.
(b) Foundation and Foundation Elements.
(1) Every foundation and foundation element shall be maintained in sound condition and in a good state of repair.
(2) Foundation elements shall adequately support the structure at all points.
(3) All missing or deteriorating foundation blocks must be replaced.
(4) Holes and/or cracks in foundation walls must be repaired.
(5) In every structure or accessory structure, cellars, basements, and crawl spaces shall be maintained reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions conducive to decay or deterioration of the structure.
(6) The supporting structural members of every building shall be maintained structurally sound, showing no evidence of deterioration which would render them incapable of carrying the imposed loads.
(c) Exterior Walls and Exterior Parts.
(1) Every exterior wall and exterior part shall be maintained in sound condition and in a state of good repair.
(2) Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks, and any other condition which might admit rain, or dampness into the interior portion of the structure.
(3) All exterior parts of every structure shall be free of structural damage and weather-tight so as to resist decay or deterioration from any cause.
(4) All buckled, rotted or decayed exterior walls or parts of every structure shall be repaired or replaced.
(5) Gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair. Splash guards of directional devices shall be provided to direct water away from the foundation of the structure.
(d) Interior Walls, Ceiling and Floors.
(1) All interior walls, ceilings, and floors shall be maintained in sound condition and in a good state of repair.
(2) Every bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(e) Roof and Elements.
(1) The roof shall be maintained in sound condition and in a good state of repair.
(2) Roof drainage shall be adequate to prevent rain water from causing dampness in the walls or interior portions of the structure.
A. Holes and structural damage of the roof shall be repaired.
B. All missing shingles shall be replaced.
(3) Chimneys shall be free of holes or structural defects.
(4) Flashing on chimneys shall be maintained to prevent moisture from damaging the interior portions of the structure.
(f) Exterior Surface Condition. Any structure or accessory structure whose exterior surface is deteriorated, decaying, disintegrating or whose exterior surface is weathered, or has been impaired through substantial peeling or flaking of the paint or other protective coating shall be repaired, repainted and/or resurfaced.
(1) All exterior wood or exterior surfaces must be sealed and painted or surface covered with other approved protective coating or treated to prevent rot and decay.
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to exterior surfaces which are not designed by the manufacturer to be sealed, painted or otherwise covered.
(g) Stairs, Stairways and Exit Facilities.
(1) Exterior stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequately constructed for safety.
(2) Every outside stair, every porch and every appurtenance attached thereto shall be capable of supporting the loads to which it is subjected and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
(3) Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of exterior stairways of four or more risers and on any open side of interior stairways of four or more risers.
A. Open sides of stairs, porches, balconies or raised floor surface with a total rise of more than thirty inches above the floor or grade below shall have guardrails.
B. Every required handrail, guardrail and balustrade shall be firmly fastened and shall be maintained in good condition.
(h) Windows and Doors.
(1) Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be substantially tight.
(2) Every window, exterior door, and basement hatchway shall be kept in sound condition and repair.
(3) Every window, exterior door, and basement hatchway shall afford protection against infestation.
(4) Every basement hatchway and window shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent entrance of rain and surface drainage into the structure.
(5) Every window, exterior door and frame shall be constructed and maintained in such relation to the adjacent wall construction so as to exclude rain as completely as possible.
(6) Every window sash shall be fully supplied with glass window panes or an approved substitute which is without open cracks or holes and tightly sealed with caulking or putty.
(7) Every window sash shall be in good condition and fit reasonably tight within this frame.
(8) Every exterior door, when closed, shall fit reasonably well within its frame.
(9) Every exterior door, door hinge and door latch shall be maintained in good condition.
(10) Every door available as an exit shall be capable of being opened from the inside easily and without the use of a key.
(i) Additional Standards for Multiple Dwellings.
(1) In multiple dwellings, every dwelling unit shall have direct access to a public stairway, hallway, corridor, or other means of egress without passing through any other dwelling unit, provided that where such multiple dwelling contains more than two dwelling units above the first story, the Administrator may require such additional means of egress as are, in his opinion, needed for the safety of the occupants of the structure.
(2) No premises which contains a dwelling unit shall be used for any other purpose unless the following conditions exist:
A. The other use is so located or arranged that it is not a health, safety or fire hazard to the residential occupant of the dwelling unit.
B. Such other use has approved toilet accommodations separate and apart from those provided for the residential occupant of the dwelling unit.
(3) All public hallways, corridors and stairways shall be provided with adequate natural or artificial illumination at all times.
(4) All other common areas, such as boiler rooms, laundries, basements, locker rooms, meter rooms, garages and cellars, shall be provided with electrical lighting facilities which, when in use, will provide adequate illumination.
(Ord. 95-1. Passed 2-20-95.)