A. Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any ordinance, resolution, or code, or whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that there exists a violation of any provision of such ordinance, resolution or code, any authorized official of the city may, upon presentation of proper credentials, enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same and to perform any duty imposed upon such official by any provision of such ordinance, resolution or code. The official shall give notice as follows:
1. The authorized official shall contact the owner or occupant of the premises, present proper identifying credentials, then request entry within a reasonable time.
2. If the authorized official locates the owner or occupant but the owner or occupant is outside of the city, the authorized official may notify such person by telephone or by letter, and in doing so, shall transmit proper identifying credentials and may request entry.
3. In the event that entry within a reasonable time is refused by the occupant, the owner, or such other person having charge or control of the building or premises, or in the event of the inability of the authorized official, after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner, or other person having charge of control of the building or premises so as to request entry, then the authorized official shall be empowered to seek and is entitled to obtain an appropriate inspection warrant or such other available remedy provided by law to secure entry to such building or premises. The city may elect to seek judicial enforcement and to oppose administrative penalties by appropriate legal action. Should the city elect judicial enforcement, the administrative provisions of this chapter are not required (due process will be obtained through the court system).
B. "Entry within a reasonable time" is deemed to be entry within a reasonable time under the circumstances existing at the time of request, not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the request.
C. "Authorized official," as used in this section, refers to any official of the city, their deputies, assistants and authorized employees who are charged with the enforcement of a particular provision of any ordinance, resolution, or technical codes adopted by ordinance.
D. The remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and not exclusive.
(Ord. 791-2010 (part), 2010)