(A) Code Enforcement or the Code Enforcement Board may order a property to close and/or vacate for a reasonable period of time, but in no event shall such order be for a period of more than one year from the date of the action. A close and/or vacate order issued by Code Enforcement, pursuant to this chapter is not an act of possession, ownership, or control by the Metro Government. An Order to Vacate will be rescinded within 14 days of full abatement unless such premises is the site of another close and/or vacate order within 60 days.
(B) If the premises consists of multi-unit dwellings, apartment buildings, or mixed uses, and the criminal activity nuisance has occurred solely within a unit or units, the authority to close and/or vacate is restricted to the unit or units in which the violation has occurred, and does not extend to any other unit in the premises. This provision is not applicable to hotels, motels, licensed boarding, and lodging houses.
(C) An Order to Close and/or Vacate may become immediately enforceable upon the following conditions:
(1) Immediate action is required to remedy the violation due to the reasonable belief that the existence of the violation presents imminent danger, a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, or if in the absence of immediate action, the effects of the violation will be irreparable or irreversible and;
(2) Such a determination is made by the Director of Codes and Regulations or the Code Enforcement Board.
(D) Any party with a direct interest in a Notice to Vacate or Notice of Closure shall be granted at least ten days by which to comply with the Order to Close and/or Vacate unless a finding mandating immediate action has been made pursuant to subsection (C). If timely filed, an appeal of an Order to Close and/or Vacate shall be heard within ten days of receipt of the appeal unless all parties agree to an extension.
(Lou. Metro Ord. No. 167-2022, approved 11-17-2022)