All nonresidential buildings and structures shall be free of all conditions that are dangerous and injurious to the public health, safety, and welfare of occupants or members of the general public. Without limitation of the foregoing requirement, the existence of any of the following conditions shall be deemed to be dangerous to the public health, safety, and welfare for which a public necessity exists for the repair, closing, or demolition of such building or structure and must be corrected in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(A) Interior walls, vertical studs, partitions, supporting members, sills, joists, rafters, or other basic structural members that list, lean, or buckle to such an extent as to render the building unsafe, that are rotted, deteriorated, or damaged, and that have holes or cracks which might admit rodents.
(B) Exterior walls that are not structurally sound, free from defects and damages, and capable of bearing imposed loads safely. Where a wall of a building has become exposed as a result of demolition of adjacent buildings, such wall must have all doors, windows, vents, or other similar openings closed with material of the type comprising the wall. The exposed wall shall be painted, stuccoed, or bricked and sufficiently weatherproofed to prevent deterioration of the wall.
(C) Floors or roofs which have improperly distributed loads, which are overloaded, or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used. Floors or roofs shall have adequate supporting members and strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used. Roofs shall be kept structurally sound and shall be maintained in such a manner so as to prevent rain or other objects from penetrating into the interior of the building.
(D) Such damage by fire, wind, or other causes as to render the building unsafe.
(E) Dilapidation, decay, unsanitary conditions, or disrepair, which is dangerous to the health, safety, or general welfare of the occupants or members of the general public.
(F) Lack of adequate ventilation, light, heating, or sanitary facilities to such extent as to endanger the health, safety, or general welfare of the occupants or members of the general public.
(G) Buildings and structures including their environs that have accumulations of garbage, trash, or rubbish, which creates health and sanitation problems. All garbage and solid waste shall be in approved containers or stored in a safe and sanitary manner.
(H) Buildings and structures that have loose and insufficiently anchored overhanging objects, which constitute a danger of falling on persons or property.
(I) Buildings and structures including their environs that have insufficiently protected holes, excavations, breaks, projections, obstructions, and other such dangerous impediments on and around walks, driveways, parking lots, alleyways, and other areas which are accessible to and generally used by persons on or around the premises.
(J) Buildings and structures that have cracked or broken glass, loose shingles, loose wood, crumbling stone or brick, loose or broken plastic, or other dangerous objects or similar hazardous conditions. Exterior surfaces shall be maintained in such material or treated in such a manner as to prevent deterioration and repaired or replaced with like or similar material according to its original use.
(K) Buildings and structures that have objects and elements protruding from building walls or roofs, which are unsafe or not properly secured or which can create a hazard such as abandoned electrical boxes and conduits, wires, sign brackets and other brackets, and similar objects.
(L) Chimneys, flues, and vent attachments thereto which are not structurally sound. Chimneys, flues, gas vents, or other draft-producing equipment which are in use shall provide sufficient draft to develop the rated output of the connected equipment, shall be structurally safe, durable, smoke-tight, and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(M) Exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs, or fire escapes which are not structurally sound. All exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs, and fire escapes shall be provided with banisters or railings properly designed and maintained to minimize the hazard of falling, and the same shall be kept sound, in good repair, and free of defects.
(N) Cornices which are not structurally sound. Rotten or weakened portions shall be repaired and/or replaced. All exposed wood shall be treated or painted.
(O) Improperly attached gutters or down-spouts that are located so as to cause a hazard to pedestrian, vehicular traffic, or adjacent property.
(P) Advertising sign structures, attached or freestanding awnings, marquees and their supporting members, and other similar attachments and structures that cause a safety hazard to the occupants or members of the general public.
(Q) All exterior surfaces that may cause unsafe conditions due to a lack of maintenance. Exterior surfaces shall be painted or sealed in order to protect the underlying surface from deterioration. All exterior surfaces that have been painted shall be maintained generally free of peeling and flaking. Where 50% or more of the aggregate of any painted surface shall have peeling or flaking or previous paint worn away, the entire surface shall be repainted in order to prevent further deterioration.
(R) Windows containing broken or cracked glass that could be in danger of falling or shattering. All windows must be tight-fitting and have sashes of proper size and design and free from rotten wood, broken joints, or broken or loose mullions.
(S) All openings originally designed as windows, doors, loading docks, or other means of egress or ingress which have been temporarily closed by boarding or other manner in a non-secure manner so as to allow unauthorized admittance. If an opening is temporarily closed by boarding to secure the building or structure, the boarding shall be trim fit, sealed to prevent water intrusion, and painted or stained to properly conform with the other exterior portions of the building and the building or structure shall be maintained in a state that secures the building or structure from any unauthorized admittance from humans, animals, or birds.
(T) Any combination of conditions which in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Official renders any building or structure dangerous or injurious to the health, safety, or general welfare of occupants or members of the general public.
(Ord. 16-163, passed 5-17-2016) Penalty, see § 152A.097