(A) All residential and commercial structures within the county shall be deemed in violation of this subchapter whenever the structure constitutes a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the 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; and
(4) Frequent use by vagrants as living quarters in the absence of sanitary facilities.
(B) In making the preliminary determination of whether or not an abandoned structure is in violation of this subchapter, the County Manager or designee 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 or 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 and insects, or become breeding places for rodents and insects;
(3) Violations of the current editions of the State Building Code, the National Electric Code, the State Plumbing Code or the State Fire Prevention Code, as adopted, which constitute a fire hazard in the structure;
(4) The collection of garbage, rubbish or combustible material which constitutes a fire hazard in the structure;
(5) The use of the structure or nearby grounds or facilities by children as a play area;
(6) Violations of the State Building Code which might result in danger to children using the structure or nearby grounds or facilities as a play area; and
(7) Repeated use of the structure by transients and vagrants, in the absence of sanitary facilities, for living, sleeping, cooking or eating.
(C) Penalty. Violation of this section shall be subject to monetary fines and injunctive relief as provided in § 11.2 of the Lincoln County Unified Development Ordinance. A violation of this section shall not be punishable as a criminal offense pursuant to G.S. § 153A-123(b1).
(Ord. passed 3-21-2022; Ord. passed 11-6-2023)