All buildings or structures which are unsafe, unsanitary, or not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life, or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolesence or abandonment, are severally in contemplation of this section, unsafe buildings. All such unsafe buildings are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the following procedure.
(a) Whenever the Building Inspector finds any building or structure or portion thereof to be unsafe, as defined above, he or she shall, in accordance with established procedure for legal notice, give the owner, agent or person in control of such building or structure written notice stating the defects thereof. This notice shall require the owner within a stated time either to complete specified repairs or improvements, or to demolish and remove the building or structure or portion thereof.
(b) If necessary, such notice shall also require the building, structure or portion thereof to be vacated forthwith and not reoccupied until the specified repairs and improvements are completed, inspected and approved by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall cause to be posted at each entrance to such building a placard stating: “NO TRESPASSING - BUILDING UNSAFE FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY”. Such notice shall remain posted until the required repairs are made or demolition is completed. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation or their agents, or other servants, to remove such notice without written permission of the Building Inspector, or for any person to enter the building except for the purpose of making the required repairs or of demolishing same.
(c) The owner, agent or person in control shall have the right, except in cases of emergency, to appeal from the decision of the Building Inspector, as provided hereinafter, and to appear before the Board of Building Code Appeals at a specified time and place to show cause why he or she should not comply with the notice.
(d) In case the owner, agent or person in control cannot be found within the stated time limit, or, if such owner, agent or person in control fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the notice to repair, rehabilitate or demolish and remove the building or structure or portion thereof, the Building Inspector, after having ascertained the cost, shall cause the building or structure or portion thereof, to be demolished, secured or required to remain vacant.
(e) The decision of the Building Inspector shall be final in cases of emergency which, in his or her opinion, involve imminent danger to human life or health. He or she shall promptly cause such building or structure, or portion thereof, to be made safe or cause its removal. For this purpose, he or she may at once enter such structure or land on which it stands, or abutting land or structures with such assistance and at such cost as he or she may deem necessary. He or she may order the vacation of adjacent structures and may require the protection of the public by an appropriate fence or such other means as may be necessary, and for this purpose may close a public or private right-of-way.
(Ord. 6735, passed 6-10-1975)