(a) The standards established in this division shall be the minimum standards for the continued use and occupancy of all buildings, property or structures, regardless of when they were constructed. Any building, property or structure that is in violation of these standards is hereby declared to be in violation of this article and may be ordered to be one or more of the following: vacated, secured, repaired, removed or demolished.
(b) The owner and any landlord of any premises within the City of Fort Worth shall be responsible for maintaining the premises in compliance with the minimum standards. The standards of this division are intended to complement the requirements of any other applicable code or ordinance of the City of Fort Worth, and shall not be deemed to lower any more restrictive standard required by the codes at time of original construction or subsequent remodeling. The duty of an owner or landlord to maintain premises in compliance with this article is not affected by any duty this article creates upon the tenants thereof, even if the owner or landlord has, by agreement, imposed upon the tenants the duty of maintaining the premises and complying with this article.
(c) (1) The minimum standards specified in Division 3, §§ 7-87 through 7-96 of this article are merged sections of both city code and state law. Minimum standards established by state law cannot be appealed. Appeals regarding the minimum standards established by the City of Fort Worth's building, fire, electrical, plumbing or mechanical codes will be addressed as prescribed for in each of those codes.
(2) The building standards commission and municipal court shall have authority relative to the administrative provisions of this article.
(Ord. 13743, § 1, passed 3-23-1999; Ord. 23577-03-2019, § 2, passed 3-19-2019)