(A) Whenever a petition is filed with the Inspector by a public authority or by at least five residents of the municipality, charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation; or whenever it appears to the Inspector, on the Inspector’s own motion, that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation; the Inspector shall, if the Inspector’s preliminary investigation discloses a basis for the charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in the dwelling, a complaint stating the charges and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Inspector at a place within the city in which the property is located therein, fixed not less than ten days, nor more than 30 days, after the service of the complaint.
(B) The owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint. The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Inspector.
(Prior Code, § 4-156) (Ord. 19-22, passed 12-17-2019)