(a) Every abandoned structure within the town shall be deemed in violation of this article whenever such structure constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the town citizens as a result of:
(1) The attraction of insects or rodents;
(2) Conditions creating a fire hazard;
(3) Dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children; or
(4) Frequent use by vagrants as living quarters in the absence of sanitary facilities.
(b) In making the determination of whether or not an abandoned structure is in violation of this article, the code enforcement officer may, by way of illustration and not limitation, consider the presence or absence of the following conditions:
(1) Holes or cracks in the structure's floors, walls, ceilings, or roof which might attract or admit rodents and insects, or become breeding places for rodents and insects;
(2) The collection of garbage or rubbish in or near the structure which might attract rodents or insects, or become breeding places for rodents or insects;
(3) Violations of the fire prevention code which constitutes a fire hazard in such structure;
(4) The collection of garbage, rubbish, or combustible material which constitutes a fire hazard in such structure;
(5) The use of such structure or nearby grounds or facilities by children as a play area;
(6) Repeated use of such structure by transients and vagrants, in the absence of sanitary facilities, for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating.
(c) A dwelling within the town shall be deemed unfit for human habitation, and the code enforcement officer may so determine, if he finds that conditions exist in the dwelling that render it dangerous or injurious to the health, safety, or morals of the occupants of the dwelling, the occupants of neighboring dwellings, or other residents of the town.
(d) In seeking the determination of whether or not a dwelling is in violation of this article, the code enforcement officer may, by way of illustration and not limitation, consider the following defective conditions:
(1) Defects therein increasing the hazards of fire, accidents, or other calamities.
(2) Lack of adequate ventilation, light, or sanitary facilities.
(3) Dilapidation.
(4) Disrepair.
(5) Structural defects.
(6) Uncleanliness.
(Code 1989, § 90.04; Ord. of 3-23-1982; Ord. of 3-13-2012)