Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). Whenever a petition is filed with the Construction Code Official by a public authority as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4 or by at least five residents of the municipality charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation as herein defined or whenever it appears to the Construction Code Official, on his/her own motion, that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, as herein defined, the Construction Official shall, if preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such dwelling a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Construction Code Official or designated agent at a place therein fixed and not less than seven days nor more than 30 days after the serving of said complaint, that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaints and that the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Construction Code Official.