CONDEMNATION, REPAIR, AND DEMOLITION OF UNSAFE BUILDINGS

§ 151.070 PERIODIC INSPECTION.

   The Inspections Department shall make periodic inspections as the county’s Board of Commissioners shall direct, by ordinance or otherwise, for unsafe, insanitary, or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in structures within their territorial jurisdiction. In addition, it shall make other inspections as may be required when it has reason to believe that the conditions may exist in a particular structure. In exercising this power, members of the Department shall have a right to enter on any premises within the jurisdiction of the Department at all reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection or other enforcement action, upon presentation of proper credentials.

(Ord. passed - -)

§ 151.071 DEFECTS IN BUILDINGS TO BE CORRECTED.

   Whenever a local Inspector finds any defects in a building, or finds that the building has not been constructed in accordance with the applicable state and local laws, or that a building because of its condition is dangerous or contains fire hazardous conditions, it shall be his or her duty to notify the owner or occupant of the building of its defects, hazardous conditions, or failure to comply with law. The owner, or the owner of the contents, shall immediately remedy defects, hazardous conditions, or violations of law in the property he or she owns.

(Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 151.999

§ 151.072 UNSAFE BUILDINGS CONDEMNED.

   Every building which shall appear to the Inspector to be especially dangerous to life because of its liability to fire or because of bad condition of walls, overloaded floors, defective construction, decay, unsafe wiring or heating system, inadequate means of egress, or other causes, shall be held to be unsafe, and the Inspector shall affix a notice of the dangerous character of the structure to a conspicuous place on the exterior wall of the building.

(Ord. passed - -)

§ 151.073 REMOVING NOTICE PROM CONDEMNED BUILDING.

   If any person shall remove any notice which has been affixed to any building or structures by a local Inspector of the county, which notice shall state the dangerous character of the building or structure, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 151.999

§ 151.074 ACTION IN EVENT OF FAILURE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

   (A)   If the owner of a building or structure which has been condemned as unsafe pursuant to state law shall fail promptly to take corrective action, the local Inspector shall give the owner written notice, by certified or registered mail to the last known address of the owner or by personal service, which states:

      (1)   The building or structure is in such a condition as appears to constitute a fire or safety hazard or to be dangerous to life, health, or other property;

      (2)   A hearing will be held before the Inspector at a designated place and time, which time shall be not less than ten days after the date of the notice, at which hearing the owner shall be entitled to be heard in person or by counsel and to present arguments and evidence pertaining to the matter; and

      (3)   Following the hearing, the Inspector may issue an order to repair, close, vacate, or demolish the building or structures as appears appropriate.

   (B)   If the name or whereabouts of the owner cannot, after due diligence, be discovered, the notice shall be considered properly and adequately served if a copy thereof is posted on the outside of the building or structure in question at least ten days prior to the hearing and a notice of the hearing published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county at least once and at least one week prior to the hearing.

(Ord. passed - -)

§ 151.075 ORDER TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

   If, upon a hearing held pursuant to the notice prescribed in state law, the Inspector shall find that the building or structure is in such a condition as to constitute a fire or safety hazard or to be dangerous to life, health, or other property, he or she shall make an order in writing, directed to the owner of the building or structure, requiring the owner to remedy the conditions by repairing, closing, vacating, or demolishing the building or structure or taking other steps as may be necessary, within the period, not less than 60 days, as the Inspector may prescribe.

(Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 151.999