Whenever a petition is filed with the Housing Inspector charging that any structure is abandoned and in violation of this subchapter, or whenever it appears to the Housing Inspector by his or her own motion that any structure is abandoned and in violation of this subchapter, the Housing Inspector, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and the parties in interest in such structures and including lien holders, if any, as shown by the records of the Robeson County Register of Deeds, a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Hearing Officer or his or her designee at a designated place not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after the serving of such complaint; that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint; and that rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Hearing Officer.
(Ord. 09-119, passed 5-19-2009)