(A) Responsibilities of occupants.
(1) Sanitary maintenance. Every occupant of a dwelling shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling and the premises thereof which they occupy and control. A clean and sanitary condition shall include, but is not limited to, the following standards:
(a) Floors, floor coverings and other walking surfaces shall be kept clean and free of dirt, filth, garbage, human and animal wastes, litter, refuse and any other unsanitary matter;
(b) Walls, ceilings, windows and doorways shall be kept clean and free of dirt, greasy film, soot and any other unsanitary matter;
(c) Plumbing fixtures shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition; and no material shall be deposited in any such fixture which may result in the obstruction of such fixture or of any lines connected thereto. Every occupant shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation of all plumbing fixtures; and
(d) All screens on windows and doors shall be maintained in good condition. This subsection shall not be construed as requiring any occupant to furnish and install, or cause to be installed, screens on windows or doors at any building or structure.
(2) Garbage and rubbish. Every occupant of a (single) dwelling, and of a (single) unit in a dwelling shall dispose of all garbage and refuse in a clean and sanitary manner and place it in a proper receptacle as required by Title 6, Chapter 3 of the City Code. Discarded or abandoned articles of such bulk as to preclude disposal in such receptacles and refuse not otherwise collected by the city as defined in Title 6, Chapter 3 of the City Code shall be conveyed by the occupant to the county landfill or some other approved private landfill.
(3) Heat. Where the heating facilities of any dwelling are under the control of the occupant thereof, it shall be the responsibility of the occupant to operate such facilities in order to maintain above-freezing temperatures at all times in all portions of the dwelling and the premises thereof which they occupy and control so as to prevent injury or damage to water pipes and plumbing.
(4) Removal of required services, facilities, and the like. No occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility, which is required under this article, to be removed or shut off from, or discontinued for, any occupied dwelling let or occupied by them, except for such process, or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer.
(5) Termination of occupancy. So as to aid in preventing vandalism to the property, the occupant of a dwelling shall, upon vacating, secure and lock all doors and windows and openings in the basement and any crawl space and shall leave the premises clean and free from all debris and trash.
(6) Access for repairs. Every occupant of a dwelling shall give the owner thereof, or their agent or employee, access to any part of such dwelling and its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this article or with any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(7) Accumulation of materials inside a dwelling. Accumulation or storage of items or materials that result in dangerous, unsafe, or hazardous conditions shall not be permitted in any habitable portion of a dwelling.
(B) Responsibilities of owners.
(1) Prohibited occupancy. No owner shall occupy or lease or permit the subletting to another for occupancy any vacant or vacated dwelling which does not comply with the provisions of this article, nor shall any owner let to another any vacant dwelling unless it is reasonably clean, sanitary and fit for human occupation.
(2) Sanitary maintenance. Every owner of a multifamily dwelling containing four or more units and every owner of a rooming house shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof. A clean and sanitary condition shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) The exterior property areas of all premises shall be kept free of objects and materials, including abandoned or immobile motor vehicles, which may create a hazard to the health and safety of the occupants or surrounding community or which is a public nuisance.
(b) All sheds, barns, garages, fences and other appurtenant structures standing on the premises shall be kept in good repair.
(c) All required screens shall be furnished and installed in the building or structure and shall be maintained in good condition.
(3) Garbage and rubbish. For every multi-family dwelling containing four or more units and any rooming house, the owner shall provide, in a location accessible to all occupants, an adequate number of receptacles or a stationary bulk refuse container into which garbage and rubbish from the unit’s receptacles may be emptied for storage between the days of collection as required by Title 6, Chapter 3 of the City Code. The area surrounding the receptacles provided by the owner or the stationary bulk refuse container shall be maintained in such a way as to prevent the scattering of garbage or refuse on the ground.
(4) Removal of required services, facilities, and the like. No owner or agent of an owner shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility, which is required under this article, to be removed or shut off from, or discontinued for, any occupied dwelling let or occupied by them, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or office.
(5) Rat-proofing and pest extermination. Every owner of an occupied dwelling shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests in all areas of the premises; except that the occupant(s) shall be responsible for such extermination if it is determined by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer they are the cause of said pests. The owner of any dwelling shall be responsible for extermination within the dwelling prior to renting or leasing the dwelling. Such extermination shall include, but is not limited to the following:
(a) Preventing the entrance by blocking or stopping up all passages, by which rats may secure entry from the exterior with rat-impervious material;
(b) Preventing the interior infestation by rat stoppage, harborage removal, the paving of basements, cellars and any other areas which are in contact with the soil, and such cleanliness as may be necessary to eliminate rat breeding places;
(c) Providing screens or such other devices for basement windows which might provide a point of entry for rodents.
(Ord. No. 23-082, § 1, passed 12-14-2023)