(A) General. The interior of a structure and equipment therein shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound and in a sanitary condition. Occupants shall keep that part of the structure, which they occupy or control, in a clean and sanitary condition. Every owner of a structure containing a rooming house, a hotel, a dormitory, two or more dwelling units or two or more nonresidential occupancies, shall maintain, in a clean and sanitary condition, the shared or public areas of the structure and exterior property.
(B) Structural members. All structural members shall be maintained structurally sound, and be capable of supporting the imposed loads.
(C) Interior surfaces. All interior surfaces, including windows and doors, shall be maintained in good, clean and sanitary condition. Peeling, chipping, flaking, or abraded paint shall be-repaired, removed, or covered. Cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood, and other defective surface conditions shall be corrected.
(1) Lead-based paint. The owner must comply with federal and state statutes and standards and local statutes and standards for the abatement of existing lead base paint and the application of lead base paint.
(2) Bathroom and kitchen floors and walls. Every toilet room, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to permit such floor to be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be composed of approved water-resistant materials and shall be substantially impervious to water damage; however, carpet will be allowed as a floor covering in these areas if areas were originally designed and approved for this type of floor covering and this floor covering has been used and maintained as to not cause a health or safety problem for the users of these areas. The walls of every bathroom, to a height of 48 inches if there is a tub and 72 inches if there is a shower, shall be constructed of water-repellant material in that area adjacent to the tub or shower, to prevent structural deterioration and any development of unsanitary conditions.
(3) Free from dampness. In every building, basements and crawl spaces shall be maintained to prevent conditions conducive to decay or deterioration of the structure.
(D) Stairs and walking surfaces. Every stair, ramp, landing, balcony, porch, deck or other walking surface shall be maintained in sound condition and good repair.
(E) Handrails and guards. Every handrail and guard shall be firmly fastened and capable of supporting normally imposed loads and shall be maintained in good condition. Every interior flight of stairs having more than four risers, and every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony, which is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards. Handrails shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) no more than 42 inches (1067 mm) high, measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing, walking surfaces or grade. Guards shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) high above the floor of the landing, balcony or grade.
(F) Interior doors. Every interior door shall fit reasonably well within its frame and shall be capable of being opened and closed by being properly and securely attached to jambs, headers or tracks as intended by the manufacturer of the attachment hardware.
(Jeff. Ord. 37-2002, adopted and effective 11-12-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 125-2007, approved 7-2-2007)