(A) Foundation.
(1) A foundation wall system shall support the building at all points and shall be free of holes, cracks, and loose mortar or masonry which would admit rodents, water or dampness to the interior of the building or which lessen the capability of the foundation to support the building.
(2) There shall be sound footings and adequate bearing.
(3) Piers shall be sound with no loose mortar or masonry.
(4) There shall be no wood stiff-knee piers.
(5) All underpinning shall be in good order and meet the minimum ventilation requirements set forth by the State Building Code.
(6) All masonry block and brick foundation systems or components shall have mortared or bonded joints.
(7) Every crawlspace door, doorway, or hatchway shall be maintained to prevent the entrance of rainwater and surface drainage water.
(8) Screening shall be provided for all crawlspace vents or openings.
(B) Floors.
(1) There shall not be decayed, termite-damaged, fire-damaged, broken, overloaded or sagging sills that adversely affect the structural integrity of the building framing system.
(2) Joists shall not be decayed or broken so as to adversely affect the structural integrity of the floor framing system.
(3) Flooring shall be weathertight without holes or cracks which permit excessive air to penetrate rooms.
(4) There shall be no loose flooring.
(5) Bathroom and kitchen flooring surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit the flooring to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(6) All floor covering or finishing shall be constructed and maintained as not to constitute a trip hazard and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(7) There shall be no use of the ground for floors, or wood floors on the ground.
(8) Flooring shall be reasonably smooth and not decayed, fire damaged or worn through.
(9) Floors shall be reasonably level.
(C) Exterior walls.
(1) The exterior of a dwelling shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound and sanitary so as not to pose a threat to the public health, safety or welfare.
(2) All wood and metal surfaces including but not limited to, window frames, doors, door frames, cornices, porches and trim shall be maintained in good condition. Peeling, flaking and chipped paint shall be eliminated and surfaces repainted.
(3) All structural members shall be maintained free from deterioration and shall be capable of safely supporting the imposed dead and live loads.
(4) All exterior walls shall be free from holes, breaks, loose or rotting materials; and maintained weatherproof and properly surface coated where required to prevent deterioration.
(5) All decorative features shall be maintained in good repair with proper anchorage and in a safe condition.
(6) All chimneys, cooling towers, smoke stacks, and similar appurtenances shall be maintained structurally safe and sound and in good repair.
(D) Interior walls.
(1) The interior finish shall be free of holes and excessive cracks which permit air to penetrate rooms and, if painted or papered, shall be free of chips or excessive peeling.
(2) Interior wall finishes and trim shall be free of stains or moisture damage caused by leaks from roofing, or other sources.
(3) No loose plaster, loose boards or other loose wall materials shall be allowed.
(4) There shall be no cardboard, newspaper or highly combustible or improper wall finish; all wall materials shall be of the same or similar quality and material.
(5) There shall be no decayed or termite-damaged studs.
(6) There shall be no broken or cracked studs or other broken or cracked structure members allowed.
(E) Ceilings.
(1) There shall be no joists or beams which are decayed or broken, sagging or improperly supported.
(2) There shall be no holes or excessive cracks which permit air to penetrate rooms.
(3) There shall be no loose plaster, boards, gypsum wall board or other ceiling finish.
(4) There shall be no evidence of water damage.
(5) There shall be no cardboard, newspaper or highly combustible or improper wall finish; all wall materials shall be of the same or similar quality and material.
(F) Roof.
(1) Roofing shall be provided to prevent the entrance of moisture and shall be maintained by renewal, repair, waterproofing or other suitable means.
(2) Gutters and downspouts, if installed, shall be provided to properly collect, conduct and discharge the water from the roof and away from the dwelling.
(3) Roofs shall be supported and no rafters shall be rotted, broken, sagging or have improperly supported ends.
(4) Attics, that are required to be ventilated, shall have ventilation that allows the movement of air to dissipate excessive heat buildup. Heat buildup is excessive if it causes deterioration of any structural member or roofing member.
(5) Sheathing shall not be rotted, loose or sagging excessively.
(6) Roof covering shall not be loose, have missing shingles or other damaged roofing components, nor have holes, leaks, or evidence of current leaks.
(7) Adequate flashing shall be provided at walls and chimneys in a manner that continues to be effective.
(8) Roofs shall be kept free of vegetation which compromises or otherwise damages the integrity of materials or function of the roof, roof overhang, fascia, soffit, gutters, or other portion of the roof structure.
(G) Porches or raised platform.
(1) Foundation flooring, ceiling and roofing for porches and raised platforms shall be equal to standards set forth in this section, except sills, joists, and floors need not be level if providing drainage of floors; floors need not be weather tight; the ceiling height may be seven feet; and the attic need not be vented.
(2) Roof post and attached railings shall be structurally sound.
(3) Every porch terrace or raised platform located at least 30 inches above the adjacent finished grade shall be equipped with guardrails not less than 36 inches high, unless other effective barriers provide adequate safety. Open guardrails shall have intermediate rails such that a six-inch sphere cannot pass through any opening.
(H) Stairs and steps.
(1) Stairs and steps shall be free of holes, grooves, and cracks large enough to constitute accident hazards.
(2) Stairwells and flights of stairs more than four risers high shall have rails not less than 34 inches measured vertically from the nose of the treads to the top of the rail.
(3) Every rail shall be firmly fastened and maintained in good condition.
(4) No flight of stairs shall be settled more than one inch out of its intended position or pulled away from supporting or adjacent structures.
(5) Supports shall not sag and shall be structurally sound and not likely to cause structural weakness in the future.
(6) Every stair riser shall be reasonably uniform in height, and treads shall be reasonably uniform in front to back width, sound and securely fastened in position and strong enough to bear a concentrated load of at least 300 pounds without danger of breaking through.
(7) Every exit stairway, deck porch, landing, balcony, exit, and all appurtenances shall be structurally sound with proper anchorage, and capable of supporting imposed loads.
(I) Painting. Effective January 1, 1995, all exterior surfaces of dwellings not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be treated with a protective coating, such as paint or other suitable preservative, with sufficient frequency to prevent deterioration. All such portions shall be cleaned and free of flaking, loose or defective surfacing materials prior to painting or coating. All interior loose or peeling wall covering or paint shall be removed and the exposed surface shall be placed in a smooth and sanitary condition. No paint shall be used for interior painting of any dwelling that exceeds the amount of lead paint pigment as established by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Paint chips or paint dust shall not be left on interior or exterior surfaces of the building or structure, or on the premises.
(Ord. No. 23-082, § 1, passed 12-14-2023)