The term "vacant house" as used herein shall mean a house which meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The house has been uninhabited for a period exceeding twelve months. The first day of being uninhabited shall be determined as follows:
(1) The Building Department shall affix to the house, in a conspicuous place, a "NOTICE OF VACANCY" form. The property owner shall have thirty days to refute, to the Building Department, the designation of the house as uninhabited. It shall be assumed that the house is uninhabited from the date the "NOTICE OF VACANCY" form is affixed if the property owner does not refute such designation.
(2) The "NOTICE OF VACANCY" form shall be prepared by the Law Department and written in such manner that is will be sufficient to advise the property owner of the City's intention to designate the house as uninhabited and the consequences of such designation.
(b) The property owner has received more than three Building Code violation notices in a twelve month period, and
(c) The City has attempted to notify the property owner, in writing, at least three times over a period of not less than three months, of the uncorrect Building Code violations and the action the City will take under this chapter unless such violations are corrected. The first such notice to be sent to the property owner shall not be sent until conditions noted in subsections (a) and (b) hereof above have been met.
(Ord. 71-1990. Passed 7-9-90.)