Unsafe buildings within the City constitute a nuisance, which nuisance is hereby defined as all those buildings or structures which are structurally unsafe or not provided with adequate egress, which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise dangerous to human life or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or obsolescence. All such unsafe buildings are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the procedure set forth in this chapter.
In addition to the definition set forth above, unsafe buildings or other structures are those which have any or all of the following defects:
(a) Interior walls or other vertical structural members which list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside of the middle third of its base.
(b) Exclusive of the foundation, show thirty-three percent or more, of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members, or fifty percent of damage or deterioration of the nonsupporting, enclosing or outside walls or covering.
(c) Have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
(d) Have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety, morals or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the City.
(e) Have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, insanitary or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of those living therein.
(f) Light, air and sanitation facilities which are inadequate to protect the health, morals, safety or general welfare of human beings who live or may live therein.
(g) Inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic or those having insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of communication.
(h) Have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property.
(i) Because of their conditions are unsafe, insanitary or dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of the people of this City.
(j) Buildings existing in violation of any provision of Part Fourteen of the Building and Housing Code of the City, Fire Prevention Code, or other ordinance of this City.
(Ord. 2013-O-07. Passed 2-26-13.)