(a) Purpose. The purpose of the Building Maintenance Code is to establish minimum standards necessary to maintain all structures and vacant lots in the City, safe, sanitary, free from fire and health hazards, and beneficial to the public welfare; to establish minimum standards governing the maintenance of structures and vacant lots, in such condition as will not constitute a blighting or deteriorating influence on the community; to fix responsibilities for owners and occupants of structures and vacant lots with respect to sanitation, repair and maintenance; to authorize the vacation or condemnation of unsafe or unfit structures; to provide for the adoption of rules and to fix penalties for violations thereof. All hazards pertaining to fire safety regulations shall be inspected by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
(b) Scope. The provisions of the Building Maintenance Code shall be supplementary to all state or federal laws, rules and regulations, and to all other provisions of City ordinances relating to the construction, use and maintenance of buildings, structures and vacant lots and shall apply to all buildings and vacant lots or portions thereof other than those included in subsection (a) hereof.
(Ord. 51-2006. Passed 3-20-06.)
(c) Existing Buildings. No owner, operator or agent, shall occupy, rent or lease, or offer for rental or lease, any business structure or any parts thereof, which do not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(d) Conflict. In the event of conflict between any provisions of this chapter, including any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to its provisions and any provisions of other City ordinances, including any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to such ordinances, the more restrictive provision or provisions shall prevail.
(e) Inspections Authorized. The Building Inspection Superintendent or his authorized agent is authorized to make or cause to be made annual inspections of all structures or premises included in the scope of this chapter and all secondary or appurtenant structures to determine whether such structures or premises conform to the provisions of this chapter. All reports, violations and orders issued by individual departments will be referred to the Superintendent for enforcement.
(f) Right of Entry. Upon presentation of proper credentials, the Building Inspection Superintendent, or his authorized agent, may
(1) Enter at all reasonable times, or at such other times as may be necessary in an emergency, any building, structure or premises in the City included in the scope of this chapter, to perform any duty imposed upon them by this chapter.
(2) Shall be permitted by the owner, lessee, manager or operator of any building or premises, to enter and inspect any building, structure or premises in the City included in the scope of this chapter at the time and for the purposes stated in this section.
(g) Severability. If any provisions of the Building Maintenance Code or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Building Maintenance Code which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end the provisions of this Building Maintenance Code are hereby declared severable.
(Ord. 122-1979. Passed 9-4-79.)
(h) Application and Enforcement. In order to regulate the maintenance of land, residential and nonresidential buildings, the International Property Maintenance Code (ICC), as adopted by the City shall apply and be enforced within the Municipality.
(1) All Inspectors shall hold a current license to inspect by the ICC (International Code Council) as a Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector. (Ord. 43-2011. Passed 4-18-11.)