(A) Maintenance of structure.
(1) Structure. Every foundation, roof, floor, wall, ceiling, stair, step, elevator, handrail, guardrail, porch, sidewalk and appurtenance thereto shall be maintained in safe and sound condition and shall be capable of supporting the loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(2) Exterior. Every foundation, floor, exterior wall, exterior door, window and roof shall be maintained in reasonably weather-tight, water-tight, rodent-proof and insect-proof condition.
(3) Doors. Every door, door hinge, door latch and door lock shall be maintained in good and functional condition and every door, when closed, shall fit reasonably well within its frame.
(4) Windows. Every window, existing storm window, window latch, window lock and other aperture covering, including its hardware, shall be maintained in good and functional condition and shall fit reasonably well within its frame.
(5) Interior surfaces. Every interior partition, wall, floor, ceiling and other interior surface shall be maintained so as to permit it to be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and, where appropriate, shall be capable of affording privacy.
(6) Maintenance of accessory structures. Every foundation, exterior wall, roof, window, exterior door, basement hatchway and appurtenance of every accessory structure shall be so maintained as to prevent the structure from becoming a harborage for rats or other vermin and shall be kept in a reasonably good state of repair.
(B) Rain water drainage. All eaves, downspouts and other roof drainage equipment on the premises shall be maintained in a good state of repair and so installed as to direct rain water away from the structure.
(C) Grading, drainage and landscaping of premises. Every premises shall be graded and drained so no stagnant water will accumulate or stand thereon. Every premises shall be continuously maintained by suitable landscaping with grass, trees, shrubs or other ground cover designed to reduce and control dust. Exception: this chapter shall not affect the existence or maintenance of storm water detention systems.
(D) Chimneys and smoke pipes. Every chimney and every supplied smoke pipe shall be adequately supported, reasonably clean and maintained in a reasonably good state of repair.
(E) Protection of exterior wood surfaces. All exterior wood surfaces of a dwelling and its accessory structures, fences, porches and similar appurtenances shall be reasonably protected from the elements and against decay by non-lead based paint or other approved protective coating. Exception: where it can be demonstrated that the exterior wood surface is comprised of a type or species of wood or has been treated in such a way as to cause it to be especially resistant to decay or infestation, the wood surface in question, if approved by the Inspector, shall be exempt from the requirements listed in this division (E).
(F) Means of egress. Every means of egress shall be maintained in good condition and shall be free of obstruction at all times.
(G) Hanging screens and storm windows. The owner or operator of the premises shall be responsible for hanging all screens and storm windows except when there is a written agreement between the owner and the occupant to the contrary. Screens shall be provided no later than May 1 of each year and storm windows shall be provided no later than November 1 of each year.
(H) Electrical system. The electrical system of every dwelling or accessory structure shall not by reason of overloading, dilapidation, lack of insulation, improper fusing or for any other cause expose the occupants to hazards of electrical shock or fire, and every electrical outlet, switch and fixture shall be maintained in good and safe working condition. The owner or operator shall supply properly sized fuses or equivalent, at the beginning of each tenant’s occupancy.
(I) Maintenance of supplied plumbing fixtures. Every supplied plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe shall be maintained in good and sanitary working condition. All plumbing shall be so designed, installed or replaced so as to prevent contamination of the water supply through backflow, back siphonage or cross-connection. Water pressure shall be adequate to permit a proper flow of water from all open outlets at all times.
(J) Maintenance of gas appliances and facilities. Every gas appliance shall be connected to a gas line with rigid black iron piping; except that, listed metal appliance connectors or semirigid tubing may be used if approved by the Building Official. Every indoor gas appliance shall have an approved shutoff valve, which shall be installed in the gas line outside of each appliance and ahead of the union connection thereto, in addition to any valve provided on the appliance. Said valve shall be within three feet of the appliance it serves, except for gas ranges which shall have an approved flexible connector not over six feet in length serving as a final connector. Every gas pipe shall be sound and tightly put together and shall be free of leaks, corrosion or obstruction so as to reduce gas pressure or volume. Gas pressure shall be adequate to permit a proper flow of gas from all open gas valves at all times.
(K) Maintenance of heating and supplied cooling equipment. The heating equipment of each dwelling shall be maintained in good and safe working condition and shall be capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms located therein to the minimum temperature required in this chapter. However, heating and supplied cooling equipment shall not be required to be maintained in operational condition during that time of the year when the equipment is not normally used.
(L) Floors; kitchen and bathrooms. Every toilet room floor surface, bathroom floor surface and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean, dry and sanitary condition.
(M) Supplied facilities. Every facility, utility and piece of equipment required by this chapter and/or present in the unit and/or designated for the exclusive use by the occupants of the unit at the time that either the rental agreement is signed or possession is given shall function safely and shall be maintained in proper working condition. Maintenance of facilities, utilities and equipment not required by this chapter shall be the owner’s responsibility unless stated to the contrary in the rental agreement. No required supplied facility shall be removed, shut off or disconnected from any occupied dwelling unit or rooming unit except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs, replacements or alterations are being made.
(N) Refrigerators and stoves. All supplied refrigerators, stoves and ranges shall be maintained in good and safe working condition.
(O) Toilets, baths and lavatory basins. All toilets, baths and lavatory basins shall be maintained in good and sanitary working condition.
(P) Fire protection. All fire extinguishers and early warning fire protection systems shall be maintained in good working condition at all times and shall be provided at the beginning of each tenancy.
(Q) Covered cisterns. All cisterns or similar water storage facilities shall be fenced, safely covered or filled in such a way as not to create a hazard to life or limb.
(R) Sealed passages. All pipe passages, chutes, and similar openings through walls or floors shall be adequately enclosed or sealed to prevent the spread of fire or passage of vermin.
(S) Pest extermination. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units or rooming units of any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units or more than one rooming unit, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(T) Owner to let clean units. No owner shall permit occupancy of the vacant dwelling unit or rooming unit unless it is clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy.
(U) Maintenance of public areas. Every owner or operator of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units or more than one rooming unit shall be responsible for maintaining, in a safe and sanitary condition, the shared public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof, unless there is a written agreement between the owner and occupant to the contrary.
(V) Maintenance of fencing. Every fence shall be kept in a reasonably good state of repair or shall be removed.
(W) Garbage disposal. Every dwelling unit shall be supplied adequate facilities for the disposal of garbage which are approved by the Building Official and are in compliance with this code.
(X) Occupancy control. No owner or operator shall allow the occupancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit to exceed the number of persons listed on the rental permit.
(Y) Cooking and eating in rooming unit. No owner or operator shall knowingly allow eating or the use of cooking equipment within any rooming unit.
(Ord. C-519, passed 5-15-2012)