No person shall occupy as owner or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
(1987 Code § 11-200)
A. Construction Standards: Every foundation, roof, floor, exterior and interior wall, ceiling, inside and outside stair, every porch, and every appurtenance thereto, shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon; and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every inside and outside stair or step shall have uniform risers and uniform treads.
(1987 Code § 11-201)
B. Stormwater Drainage: Where required, gutters, leaders and downspouts shall be provided and maintained in good working condition so as to provide proper drainage of stormwater.
(1987 Code § 11-202)
C. Rodent Control: Every dwelling, multiple dwelling, rooming house or accessory structure and the premises on which they are located shall be maintained in a rodent free and rodentproof condition.
1. All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements, ground or first floors which have a one-half inch (1/2") diameter or more opening, shall be rodentproofed in an approved manner if they are within forty eight inches (48") of the existing exterior ground level immediately below such openings, or if they may be reached by rodents from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires, cornices, stairs, roofs and other items, such as trees or vines, or by burrowing.
2. All windows located at or near ground level used or intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at or near ground level, and all exterior doorways which might provide an entry for rodents, shall be supplied with adequate screens or such other devices as will effectively prevent the entrance of rodents into the structure.
3. All sewers, pipes, drains or conduits and openings around such pipes and conduits shall be constructed to prevent the ingress or egress of rodents to or from a building.
4. Interior floors of basements, cellars and other areas in contact with soil shall be rodentproofed in an approved manner.
5. Materials stored outside the dwelling shall be stacked and elevated so that there will be at least an eighteen inch (18") opening between the material and the ground level so as to prevent the creation of a rodent harborage area. No stacking or piling of material shall take place against the exterior walls of the structure.
6. Any materials used for rodentproofing shall be acceptable to the Building Enforcement Officer.
(1987 Code § 11-203)
D. Fencing: All fences shall be constructed in accordance with the Fence Ordinance and shall be maintained in good condition and shall not create a harborage for rodents. Any fence that is to be painted, shall be painted with a nonlead base paint.
(1987 Code § 11-204)
E. Accessory Structures: Accessory structures present or provided by the owner, agent or tenant occupant on the premises of a dwelling shall be structurally sound, and be maintained in good repair and free of insects and rodents, or such structures shall be removed from the premises. The exterior of such structures shall be made weather resistant through the use of decay resistant materials or the use of lead free paint or other preservatives.
(1987 Code § 11-205)
F. Plumbing Fixtures: Every plumbing fixture and all water and waste pipes shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition.
(1987 Code § 11-206)
G. Impervious Surfaces: Every water closet compartment, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(1987 Code § 11-207)
H. Discontinuance Of Services: No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling or dwelling unit let or occupied by them; except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the appropriate authority.
I. Negligent Housing Management: No person having personal management or control of residential real estate, whether as a legal or equitable owner of residential real estate or as a managing agent or otherwise, shall knowingly permit by their gross carelessness or neglect, the physical condition or facilities of the residential real estate to become or remain so deteriorated that the health, welfare or safety of any inhabitant or other person is endangered or otherwise adversely affected thereby.
(Ord. 19-1186, 2-18-2019)