The following definitions and terms shall apply to this article.
"IMMINENT DANGER." A condition which could cause serious or life-threatening injury or death at any time.
"INFESTATION." The presence, within or contiguous to, a structure or premises of insects, rats, vermin or other pests.
"OCCUPANT." Any individual living or sleeping in a structure, or having possession of a space within a structure.
"OWNER."
(A) Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in a structure, or recorded in the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding title to premises in which a structure is located, or otherwise having control of the premises in which a structure is located, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court; or
(B) Any person, firm, corporation or entity, who alone, jointly, or severally with others have all or part of the legal title to any structure, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, or shall have all or part of the beneficial ownership of any structure and a right to present use and enjoyment thereof, including a mortgage in possession; or shall have charge, care, or control of any structure as owner, or as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian of the estate, or duly authorized agent of the owner.
"STRUCTURE." That which is built or constructed and located on real property within the City of Grayson.
"UNSAFE STRUCTURE." A structure which is found to be dangerous to life, health, property, or the safety of the public, its occupants, occupants of neighboring structures, or other residents of the city, by not providing minimum safeguards for protection from fire or because the structure contains unsafe equipment or it is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that partial or complete collapse is possible, or conditions exist in the structure which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of the structure, the occupants of neighboring structures, or the residents of the city.
"UNSAFE EQUIPMENT." Any boiler, heating equipment, cooking equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid containers or other equipment within a structure which is in disrepair or such a condition that is a hazard to life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the premises or structure, or is not approved for use under state or federal law, regulation, ordinance or code, or is dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of the structure, the occupants of neighboring structures, or the residents of the city.
"UNFIT AND UNSAFE FOR HUMAN HABITATION." An unsafe structure, a structure that contains unsafe equipment, an unlawful structure, a structure that is unfit for human habitation or use in which the City Code Enforcement Officer and/or City Fire Chief finds is unsafe, unlawful, or because of the degree in which the structure lacks maintenance or is in disrepair, is unsanitary, vermin or rat infested, contains filth and contamination or lacks sanitary or heating facilities, or conditions exist in the structure which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of the structure, the occupants of neighboring structures, or the residents of the city.
"UNLAWFUL STRUCTURE." A structure that is found in whole or in part to be erected, altered, occupied or utilized contrary to law, regulation, ordinance or code.
(Ord. 16-2012, passed 11-27-12)