(A) The administration of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the Hopkinsville Fire Department in close cooperation with the county’s Health Department and other officials and agencies. The Hopkinsville Fire Department may seek written opinions concerning the conditions of dwellings or other buildings.
(B) The Hopkinsville Fire Departments, and its employees or agents shall be free from personal liability for acts done in good faith in the performance of official duties.
(C) The Hopkinsville Fire Department, and its employees or agents shall not have a financial interest in the furnishing of labor, material or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of a building, except where he or she is the owner and shall not act as an agent for real estate sales, leases or rentals.
(D) (1) The Hopkinsville Fire Department is authorized to conduct surveys and make inspections in any area of the community to determine compliance with this chapter or other ordinances the Hopkinsville Fire Department is empowered to enforce.
(2) The Hopkinsville Fire Department shall investigate all complaints whether they be verbal, written or in the form of a petition alleging or charging a violation of this chapter exists or a building or dwelling is unfit or unsafe for human habitation or other occupancy.
(3) For the purpose of making such surveys, inspections and investigations, any code enforcement officer is authorized, upon providing identification and statement of purpose, to enter, inspect, survey and investigate between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or at any time if an emergency exists or if requested by the owner or occupant, all buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and general premises. Any code enforcement officer shall be allowed to enter any structure which is open to the public and meets the definition of unsafe structure for the enforcement of this chapter.
(E) The Hopkinsville Fire Department shall keep records of all complaints received, right of entry forms, inspection reports, orders and complaints issued and of all other actions taken. The records shall be available for public inspection. The Hopkinsville Fire Department shall prepare an annual report including statistics based on the records kept.
(Ord. 25-2006, passed 7-11-2006; Ord. 22-2017, passed 12-19-2017; Ord. 45-2023, passed 11-21-2023)