§ 8-508  DESIGNATION OF UNFIT DWELLINGS.
   The designation of dwellings or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and placarding of such unfit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out in compliance with the following requirements.
   (a)   Existence of conditions. The public officer may determine, or five citizens may petition in writing, that any dwelling unit is unfit for human use or habitation if he, she or they find that conditions exist in such structure that are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or morals of the occupants of such buildings or other residents of the neighborhood, or which shall have a blighting influence on properties in the area.
   (b)   Conditions generally. Such conditions may include the following without limitation:
      (1)   Defects therein increasing the hazards of fire, accident or other calamities.
      (2)   Lack of:
         (A)   Adequate ventilation;
         (B)   Light;
         (C)   Cleanliness; and
         (D)   Sanitary facilities.
      (3)   Dilapidation;
      (4)   Disrepair;
      (5)   Structural defects;
      (6)   Overcrowding;
      (7)   Inadequate ingress and egress;
      (8)   Unsightly appearance that constitute a blight to the adjoining property, the neighborhood or the city; and
      (9)   Air pollution.
   (c)   Placarding; order to vacate. Any dwelling or dwelling unit condemned as unfit for human habitation, and so designated and placarded by the public officer, shall be vacated within a reasonable time as so ordered.
   (d)   Notice of violation. Procedures as outlined in § 8-512 are applicable hereto.
   (e)   Compliance required before re-occupancy. No dwelling or dwelling unit that has been condemned and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and such placard is removed by the public officer.
      (1)   The public officer shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the condemnation and placarding action were based have been eliminated.
      (2)   It shall be unlawful for anyone to let, lease, occupy or permit the occupancy, whether for a consideration or not, of any dwelling so posted and any violation of this provision shall constitute a public offense within the meaning of this code.
      (3)   It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or remove the placard from any dwelling or dwelling unit that has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such, except the public officer as herein provided, and any violation of this provision shall constitute a public offense within the meaning of this code.