The minimum structural standards shall be as follows:
(A) Foundation.
(1) A foundation shall support the building at all points, and shall be free of holes and cracks which admit rodents, water, or dampness to the interior of the building, or which lessen the capability of the foundation to support the building;
(2) The foundation shall be on firm, reasonably dry ground, and there shall be no water standing, or running, under the building;
(3) Footings shall be sound, and have adequate bearing capacity;
(4) Piers shall be sound;
(5) No wood stiff knees, or other improper piers, shall be allowed; and
(6) All structures shall be underpinned or enclosed in an approved manner, such as aluminum, galvanized asbestos, or masonry.
(B) Floors.
(1) No rotted or termite-damaged sills shall be allowed;
(2) No broken, overloaded, or sagging sills shall be allowed;
(3) Sills shall be reasonably level;
(4) Sills shall be properly, and sufficiently, supported;
(5) Sills shall clear the ground by at least 18 inches;
(6) No rotted or termite-damaged joists shall be allowed;
(7) No broken, or sagging, joists shall be allowed;
(8) Flooring shall be weather tight without holes or cracks which permit air to excessively penetrate rooms;
(9) Flooring shall be reasonably smooth, not rotten or worn through;
(10) No loose flooring shall be allowed; and
(11) Floors shall be reasonably level.
(C) Walls, exterior.
(1) Every exterior wall shall be protected with paint, or other protective covering, to prevent the entrance, or penetration, of moisture or the weather;
(2) No studs which are rotted, or termite-damaged, shall be allowed;
(3) No broken, or cracked, structural members shall be allowed;
(4) No loose siding shall be allowed;
(5) Walls used as partitions shall not lean or buckle; and
(6) No deteriorated siding or covering shall be allowed.
(D) Walls, interior.
(1) The interior finish shall be free of holes and cracks, which permit air to excessively penetrate rooms;
(2) No loose plaster, loose boards, or other loose wall materials shall be allowed;
(3) There shall be no cardboard, newspaper, or other highly combustible material allowed as a wall finish;
(4) No studs shall be rotted or termite-damaged; and
(5) No broken or cracked studs, or other broken or cracked structural members, shall be allowed.
(E) Ceilings.
(1) No joists shall be rotted, broken, or sagging, or have improperly supported ends;
(2) There shall be allowed no holes or cracks, which permit air to excessively penetrate rooms;
(3) No loose plaster, loose boards, loose sheetrock, or other loose ceiling finish shall be allowed; and
(4) There shall be allowed, as ceiling finishes, no cardboard or other highly combustible material.
(F) Roofs.
(1) Rafters shall not be rotted, broken, or sagging, or have improperly supported ends;
(2) No rafters seriously fire-damaged shall be allowed;
(3) Attics shall be properly vented;
(4) No rotted, loose, or sagging sheathing shall be allowed;
(5) No loose roof covering shall be allowed, nor shall there be allowed any holes or leaks, which could cause damage to the structure or rooms; and
(6) Walls and chimneys shall have proper flashing.
(G) Stairs and steps.
(1) Stairs and steps shall be free of holes, grooves, and cracks large enough to constitute accident hazards;
(2) Stairwells, and flights of stairs, more than four risers, or having risers more than 30 inches high, shall have rails not less than two feet and six inches measured vertically from the nose of the treads to the top of the rail;
(3) Every rail shall be firmly fastened, and maintained, in good condition;
(4) No flight of stairs settled more than one inch out of its intended position, or pulled away from supporting or adjacent structures, shall be allowed; and
(5) No rotting, sagging, or deteriorated supports shall be allowed.
(H) Porches and appurtenances.
(1) Every outside and inside porch, and any appurtenance thereto, shall be safe to use, and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause, to be kept in sound condition and good repair; and
(2) Protective railings shall be required on any unenclosed structure over three feet from the ground level.
(I) Accessory structures. All accessory buildings, and structures, including detached garages, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair, or shall be raised to grade level, and the debris therefrom removed from the premises; and
(J) Supplied facilities. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment, or utility, which is required under this article, shall be so constructed, or installed, that it will function safely and effectively, and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition.
(Ord. 21-2018, passed 12-3-2018)