(a) General. It is hereby found that there exists within the town dwellings that are unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation; defects increasing the hazards of fire, accident or other calamities; lack of ventilation, light, or sanitary facilities; and other conditions rendering the dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, or dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety, morals, or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the town, and that there exists within the town abandoned structures which the town council finds to be hazardous to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the town due to the attraction of insects or rodents, conditions creating a fire hazard, dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children, or frequent use by vagrants as living quarters in the absence of sanitary facilities. Therefore, pursuant to the authority granted by G.S. 160A-174 et seq., and 160D- 1201 et seq., it is the intent of this article to provide for the repair, closing, or demolition of any such dwellings or abandoned structures in accordance with the provisions and procedures as are set forth by law.
(b) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned structure means any structure, whether designed and intended for residential or other uses, which has been vacant or not in active use, regardless of purpose or reason, for the past two-year period and which is determined by the code enforcement officer to be unfit for human habitation or occupancy based upon the standards as set forth in this article.
Code enforcement officer means the code enforcement officer designated or appointed by the town council to carry out the administration and enforcement of this article.
Structure means a combination of material to form a construction. The term "structure" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or part thereof."
(Code 1989, § 90.01; Ord. of 3-13-2012)