For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BUSINESS BUILDING. Any structure, whether public or private, regardless of the type of material used in its construction, located within the city that is adapted to occupancy for transaction in business, whether vacant or occupied, for the rendering of professional services, for the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise, or for the performance of work or labor, including hotels, rooming houses, apartment houses, beer parlors, office buildings, public buildings, theaters, stores, markets, restaurants, warehouses, grain elevators, abattoirs, work shops, factories and all public or private structures, where domestic or other animals are kept.
OCCUPANT. The person that has the use of or occupies any business building or any part thereof, whether the actual owner or tenant. In the case of vacant business buildings or any vacant portion of a business building, the owner thereof shall have the responsibility of or be deemed the tenant thereof.
OPENING. Any opening in the foundation, sides or walls, ground or first floors, basements and roofs, including chimneys, eaves, grills, windows, ventilators, sidewalk grates and elevators, and around any pipe, wire or other installation connecting with a building through which a rat may enter.
OWNER. The actual owner of the business building whether an individual, partnership or corporation, or agent of the building or other person having custody of the building, or to whom rent is paid. In the case of business buildings leased with a covenant in the lease specifying that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee will be considered in such cases as the OWNER for the purpose of this subchapter.
PREMISES. All business buildings, sheds, barns, animal pens or shelters, garages, docks, wharves, piers, grain elevators and abattoirs, whether public or private used in connection with the operation of any business building, as herein defined.
RAT ERADICATION. The removal, killing, destruction, extermination of rats by systematic use of traps or of poisons and by other methods.
RAT HARBORAGE. Any condition which provides shelter or protection for rats, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind.
RAT STOPPAGE or RAT-PROOFING. Applies to a relatively inexpensive form of rat-proofing to prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings from the exterior or from one building or business establishment to another. It consists essentially of the closing or protection of all openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roofs and foundations with material impervious to rat gnawing in such a manner as to prevent rats from gaining entrance.
(Prior Code, § 9-30)