For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APARTMENT. A room or group of rooms in an apartment house designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family.
APARTMENT HOUSE. A building designed for and occupied exclusively by two or more families living independently of one another.
BASEMENT. A portion of a building located partly underground, but having less than half its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
CELLAR. A portion of a building located party or wholly underground and having half or more than half of clear floor-to ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
DWELLING. Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants; provided that temporary housing as hereinafter defined shall not be regarded as a dwelling.
DWELLING UNIT. Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living sleeping, cooking and eating.
EXTERMINATION. The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating
their harborage place; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spaying, fumigating or trapping; or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the Board of Health.
GARBAGE. The animal and vegetable waste result from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
HABITABLE ROOM. A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closets compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating corridors, closets and storage spaces.
HOTEL. Every building or structure kept, used or maintained as and advertised or held out to the public to be an inn, hotel, motel, family hotel, apartment hotel, lodging house, dormitory or place where sleep or rooming accommodations are furnished for hire or are used or maintained for the accommodation of guests, lodgers or roomers.
INFESTATION. The presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests.
INSPECTION CERTIFICATE. That certificate issued by the Building Department which documents that a dwelling unit has passed inspection and the owner is permitted to rent or lease the unit.
INSPECTION OFFICERS. The following persons, working separately or together, who shall enforce the provisions of this chapter:
(1) Building Commissioner, Building Inspector or designated officer;
(2) Fire Inspector (Chief or designated officer);
(3) County Health Officer;
(4) Ordinance Administrator.
MULTIPLE DWELLING. Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
OCCUPANT. Any person over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR. Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
ORDINARY MINIMUM WINTER CONDITIONS. The temperature 15°F above the lowest recorded temperature for the previous ten year period.
OWNER. Any person who, alone, jointly or severally with others:
(1) Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, whether or not they occupy the same;
(2) Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he or she were the owner; or
(3) Shall be the purchaser under a land contract of any dwelling or dwelling unit whether or not they occupy the same.
PLUMBING. All of the following supplied facilities and equipment gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, water pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, building drains, sewer drains, vents, and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer, or gas lines.
REGION FEE. The amount paid to the Building Department when registering a rental unit with the City Building Department.
REGISTRATION RECEIPT. That receipt issued by the Building Department which documents that a dwelling unit has been registered and the owner has paid the appropriate registration fee.
RENTAL BUILDING. A building containing one or more rental units.
RENTAL DWELLING UNIT. A rented single dwelling unit in residential premises.
RENTAL UNIT. A unit of a hotel, motel, rooming house or apartment house, a rental dwelling unit, a dwelling unit, an apartment, or other similar designation which is held for lease or rent.
ROOMING HOUSE. Any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator to five or more persons who are not husband and wife, son or daughter, mother or father or sister or brother of the owner or operator.
ROOMING UNIT. Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.
RUBBISH. Includes materials other than garbage resulting from ordinary household operations, including such items as tin cans, glass, bottles, ashes, papers, magazines, newsprinting boxes, china,
crockery rags, old shoes, small cartons, broken crockery which has been used as food or beverage containers and the like in metal or plastic covered containers or plastic bags tied. Shrubbery and tree trimmings (no trees) are included, provided the trimmings are tied in bundles which lengths do not exceed four feet or enclosed in a container, the maximum size of which shall not be more than one foot, six inches wide, four feet long and one foot six inches deep.
SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY INTEREST. Any right in real estate susceptible of being affected in a substantial way by actions authorized by this chapter including a fee or future interest, life estate interest, present possessory interest or equitable interest of a contract purchaser.
SUPPLIED. Paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of the owner or operator.
TEMPORARY HOUSING. Any tent, trailer or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure, or to any utility system on the same premises for more than 30 days.
UNACCEPTABLE. Any violation of this chapter or an applicable state code or statute which violation does not render the building or any portion of the building unsafe.
UNSAFE BUILDING. A building or structure or any part of a building or structure that is:
(1) In an impaired structural condition that makes it unsafe to a person or property;
(2) A fire hazard;
(3) A hazard to the public health;
(4) A public nuisance;
(5) Dangerous to a person or property because of a violation of a statute or ordinance concerning building condition or maintenance.
(6) Vacant and not maintained in a manner that would allow human habitation, occupancy or use under the requirements of the statute or an ordinance.
UNSAFE PREMISES. The tract of real estate on which an unsafe building is located.
(Ord. 19-1998, passed 10-5-98)