The Department of Planning and Development shall inspect every vacant residential dwelling in the City for the purpose of enforcing and assuring compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Upon the request of the Code Enforcement Supervisor or Chief Building Official, an owner may provide access to all interior portions of an unoccupied dwelling in order to permit an inspection of public utility service connections and operation such as water supply and pressurization, electrical fuse boxes, natural gas and/or propane connections and the adequacy and existence of structural entrance point components and locks therefore including doors, windows and attic/crawl space coverings. Nothing contained herein, however, shall diminish the owner's right to insist upon the procurement of an administrative search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction by a Code Enforcement Supervisor or Chief Building Official or his or her designee in order to enable such inspection. The Code Enforcement Supervisor or Chief Building Official shall be required to obtain an administrative search warrant whenever an owner refuses to permit a consensual inspection of the premises and such inspection is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of adjacent property owners because apparent physical conditions at the property demand response to assure the status of public utility service connections and operation such as water supply and pressurization, electrical fuse boxes, natural gas and/or propane connections and the adequacy and existence of structural entrance point components and locks therefore including doors, windows and attic/crawl space coverings and the affidavit for and search warrant issued shall be so limited in scope. In addition, the following inspection schedule shall apply for all properties:
(a) Vacant dwellings will be externally inspected at the start of each registration period (new and renewal) and when the registration is terminated by the property owner.
(b) Vacant dwellings will be externally inspected by the Code Enforcement Supervisor or his or her designee a minimum of twice per year to ensure the compliance of property maintenance codes;
(Ord. 14-O-24. Passed 4-1-14; Ord. 18-O-075. Passed 9-4-18.)