(A) The Community Development Department is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises located within the city in order that it may perform its duty of protecting the health and safety of the occupants of dwellings and of the general public. For the purpose of making these inspections the Community Development Department is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises located in the city; provided, however, that the Department shall first give notice in writing to the occupant of the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises if the same be occupied, and to the owner thereof, of the intent to inspect the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises. This notice shall be given or mailed to the occupant, if the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises is occupied, and to the owner, at least 15 business days prior to the time of the inspection, which notice to include the day, date and approximate time of the inspection. A notice mailed to the last known address of the person to whom the notice is addressed shall be sufficient to comply with this section. The city has the right to inspect a dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises with less than 15 days’ notice if the violation(s) pose an imminent danger to the life, health or safety of the occupants of the building or surrounding buildings/areas as determined by the City Manager or his/her designee. The owner shall be notified, by phone or US mail depending on the severity of the violation, of the City Manager or his/her designee’s decision to have an unscheduled inspection at the time of decision to make an unscheduled inspection.
(B) The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit and premises, or the person in charge thereof, shall give the Inspector free access to the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit and premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspection of the premises, examination and survey, but is required to do so only if the requisites of notice as prescribed in division (A) above have been fully complied with by the Inspector; and further only if the Inspector presents properly executed credentials at the time he or she appears to make the inspection. No penalty shall be imposed for violation of this division (B).
(1990 Code, § 6-261) (Ord. 63-722, passed 7-29-1963; Ord. 69-6, passed 1-20-1969; Ord. 72-235, passed 11-20-1972; Ord. 78-570, passed 2-6-1978; Ord. 17-3538, passed 2-6-2017; Ord. 18-3568, passed 6-18-2018; Ord. 20-3609, passed 4-6-2020)