(A) If the owner of a dwelling or other building fails to comply with the order of the Building Inspector to repair, alter or improve, and/or vacate, close, remove or demolish the dwelling, dwelling unit or building, the Building Inspector may cause such dwelling, dwelling unit or building to be repaired, altered or improved, and/or to be vacated, closed, removed or demolished. The Building Inspector may cause to be posted on the main entrance, a placard with the following words:
This building is unfit for human habitation or other use; the use or occupation of this building for human or other use after is unlawful and is prohibited. |
(B) No person shall deface or remove the placard or other notice required hereunder from any dwelling, dwelling unit or building. The Building Inspector shall cause the placard to be removed whenever the defects upon which the action for the placard was based have been corrected or removed.
(C) The amount of the cost of such repairs, alteration or improvements, or vacating and closing, or removal or demolition by the Building Inspector, including the cost of advertising and publishing of notices, shall be the personal debt and liability of the owner or owners, and shall be a lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred. Said cost shall be placed upon the city’s tax books against the said property and may be collected, and the said liens may be foreclosed, in the same manner as taxes and tax liens are collected and foreclosed, or by other civil suit or process as the City Attorney may determine. If the dwelling, dwelling unit or building is removed or demolished by the Building Inspector, he or she shall, if possible, sell the materials of such dwelling, dwelling unit or building and shall credit the proceeds of such sale against the cost of removal or demolition, and any balance remaining shall be deposited in the District Court by the Building Inspector, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such court, and shall be disbursed by such court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by final order or decree of such courts.
(D) Failure on the part of any owner or party in interest to receive or have served upon him or her any complaint, notice or order herein provided for, shall not affect or invalidate the proceedings with respect to any other owner or party in interest or any other person, firm or corporation.
(2005 Code, § 9-804)