In addition to complying with all other applicable provisions of the Village Codified Ordinances, all vacant buildings and vacant property within the Village shall be maintained in accordance with the following vacant building maintenance standards:
(a) Except as provided in Section 1243.07(a)(2)E., all exterior openings which cannot be otherwise properly secured shall be boarded, secured, and protected from intrusion by birds, vermin, vandals, and trespassers in accordance with the United States Fire Administration's National Arson Prevention Initiative Board-Up Procedures, hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A copy of the United States Fire Administration's National Arson Prevention Initiative Board-Up Procedures shall be kept on file with the Zoning Department and the Fire Department.
(b) A vacant building shall be protected from deterioration and maintained in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of East Palestine.
(c) A vacant building and the property on which it is located shall be kept clean, safe, sanitary, and free from public nuisance in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of East Palestine.
(d) A vacant building shall display a hazardous identification mark or placard that is readily visible from normal access points to the building in accordance with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Vacant/ Abandoned Building Marking System, which said identification system shall provide a visual cue to first responders that the property is vacant, that it has been inspected and evaluated, and that it might contain hazardous conditions dangerous to responders.
(e) The Village shall institute a Knox box system, or its equivalent, for installation on each vacant commercial, manufacturing, or industrial building in the Village in case immediate access to the interior of the building by Fire Department or Police Department personnel is necessary for life-saving, firefighting, or other emergency purposes. The owner of any vacant commercial, manufacturing, or industrial building shall, in the presence of the Zoning/Building Inspector, place in such box, properly labeled or identified, any and all keys needed to gain access to all areas of the building, including the roof and basement. The Knox box shall be installed in a location approved by the Zoning/Building Inspector in consultation with the Fire Chief and the Police Chief. The cost of purchase and installation of such a system shall be paid from the monies collected under the Vacant Building Registration Program. The Fire Chief and/or the Police Chief shall have control of the master key or master code for the box system. The person in control of the building shall immediately provide new keys when a lock is changed or re-keyed, and any such said keys shall be immediately secured in the Knox box and the old keys removed therefrom in the presence of the Zoning Inspector.
(Ord. 2019-19. Passed 2-24-20; Ord. 14-2022. Passed 9-12-22.)