All vacant commercial and industrial buildings and property within the city shall be maintained in accordance with the following vacant building maintenance standards.
(A) Exterior openings, except those prohibited by § 153.07(A)(2)(e), which cannot be secured by locking an existing door or window shall be covered by clear polycarbonate material, secured, and protected from intrusion by birds, vermin, and trespassers in accordance with the United States Fire Administration’s National Arson Prevention Initiative Board-Up Procedures, substituting clear polycarbonate materials for wood materials, hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A copy of the United States Fire Administrations National Arson Prevention Initiative Board-Up Procedures shall be kept on file with the Safety and Service Director.
(B) A vacant commercial or industrial building shall be protected from deterioration and maintained in accordance with the codified ordinances of the city, including roofing, guttering, and downspouting that is sound and operable; flooring, passageways, and stairways that are sound and free from obstruction; secure wall and ceiling treatments and secure structural members; sound foundation, footer, and masonry walls; and exterior treatments, porches, railings, bays, and surfaces secure and protected from corrosion or rust.
(C) A vacant commercial or industrial building and the property on which it is located shall be kept clean, safe, sanitary, and free from public nuisance in accordance with the codified ordinances of the city.
(D) A vacant commercial or industrial building shall display a hazardous identification placard that is readily visible from normal access points of the building pursuant to the requirements of the Safety and Service Director and in accordance with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Vacant/Abandoned Building Marking system.
(E) Optionally, a key box may be installed on each vacant commercial or industrial building in the city in case immediate access to the interior of the building by Fire Department personnel is necessary for life-saving or firefighting purposes. Each key box shall be of a type that is approved by the Fire Chief. The key box shall be installed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and shall be installed in a location approved by the Fire Chief. The cost of purchase and installation of each key box shall be paid by the owner. Each key box shall contain keys to gain access to all areas of the building including the roof and basement. The person in control of the building shall immediately notify the Fire Chief and provide the new key when a lock is changed or re-keyed. The key to such lock shall be secured in the key box.
(1982 Code, § 165.08) (Ord. 2013-10, passed 2-10-2014; Ord. 2017-04, passed 8-14-2017)