(a) Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Building and Housing Code, including a provision of any standard or Code adopted by reference in this Building and Housing Code, and including any rule, regulation or order made under authority of this Building and Housing Code or under authority of any such standard or code adopted by reference, for which no penalty is otherwise provided, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than six months, or both, for each offense. Unless otherwise provided, a separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues.
(b) The imposition of any penalty shall not preclude the Director of Law from instituting an appropriate action or proceeding in a court of proper jurisdiction to prevent an unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use, or to restrain, correct or abate a violation, or to prevent the occupancy of a building, structure or premises, or to prevent an illegal act, conduct, business or use, in or about any premises, or to require compliance with provisions of this Code or other applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations or the orders or determinations of the Commissioner of Buildings or the Planning and Zoning Commission.