(A) Any abandoned structure that is a health or safety hazard as a result of the attraction of insects or rodents, conditions creating a fire hazard, dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children, or frequent use by vagrants as living quarters in the absence of sanitary facilities shall be repaired, closed, or demolished. It shall be unlawful for the owner of an abandoned structure to allow the abandoned structure to become or to remain a health or safety hazard as defined in this subsection.
(B) The Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall have the authority to attempt to accomplish the repair, alteration, or improvement, or closing, or removal or demolition of the abandoned structure through the procedures set out in section 9-1-111, except that if the estimated cost to repair the structure is 50% or more of its value, the structure shall be considered dilapidated, and the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall order that it be removed or demolished. Upon the failure of the owner of an abandoned structure to comply with an order of the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer to repair, alter, or improve, or close, or remove or demolish such structure, the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall present the matter to the City Council. If the City Council finds that the abandoned structure is unsafe pursuant to subsection (A), it may adopt an ordinance ordering the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer to cause such abandoned structure to be repaired, altered, or improved, or closed, or removed or demolished. Each such ordinance shall be recorded as provided in section 9-1-111(D), and the cost of any repair, altering, or improving, closing, or removal or demolition caused to be made by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall be a lien on the premises as provided in section 9-1-115.
(C) For the purpose of subsection (A) and (B), the term “abandoned structure” shall mean any dwelling thereon that has been vacant or not in active use, regardless of purpose or reason, for the past six month period and is maintained in an uninhabitable condition or a condition of disrepair or deterioration and which is determined by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer to be unfit for human habitation or occupancy based upon the standards as set forth in this article.
(Ord. No. 23-082, § 1, passed 12-14-2023)