ARTICLE 4: HOUSING AND BUILDING CODE

Section

General Provisions

   5-4.1   Title

   5-4.2   Intent and findings of the Town Board of Commissioners

   5-4.3   Purpose and scope

   5-4.4   Owner’s responsibilities generally

   5-4.5   Occupant’s responsibilities generally

   5-4.6   Conditions rendering residential buildings unfit for human habitation

   5-4.7   Declaration of unsafe non-residential building or structure

   5-4.8   Unlawful to rent or occupy property after expiration of time limits under any orders issued pursuant to this article

   5-4.9   Unauthorized removal of orders, notices

   5-4.10   Definitions

   5-4.11   Chapter supplemental; alternative remedies

Administration and Enforcement

   5-4.20   Duties and powers of enforcing agent

   5-4.21   Preliminary investigation; issuance of complain; hearing

   5-4.22   Methods of service of complaints and orders

   5-4.23   Determination, issuance of order after hearing

   5-4.24   Failure to comply with order; Council may consider ordinance enforcing order

   5-4.25   Remedies; appeal by owner to superior court

   5-4.26   Summary ejectment if occupants fail to obey order or ordinance to vacate

   5-4.27   Emergency enforcement

   5-4.28   Penalties and fees

   5-4.29   Collection of costs

Minimum Standards

   5-4.40   International Property Maintenance Code; certain chapters and index adopted as minimum standards

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 5-4.1 TITLE.

   This article shall be known, and cited as, as the "Minimum Housing and Unsafe Building Code" and may be referred to herein as "this article".

(Adopted 11-2-2021)

§ 5-4.2 INTENT AND FINDINGS OF THE TOWN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

   (A)   It is hereby found and declared that the existence and occupation of dwellings in this town's jurisdiction that are unfit for human habitation are inimical to the welfare and dangerous and injurious to the health, safety and morals of the people of the town, and that a public necessity exists for the repair, closing or demolition of such dwellings. Whenever this town finds that there exists in the town dwellings that are unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation, defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or due to other conditions rendering the dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, or dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety, morals, or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the town; and

   (B)   It is hereby found that when there exists within the town's jurisdiction structures which the Board of Commissioners find to be hazardous to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town due to the attraction of insects, snakes and/or rodents or conditions creating a fire hazard, dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children or conditions creating a fire hazard, dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children or conditions creating frequent use by vagrants as living quarters in the absence of sanitary facilities.

   (C)   The Board of Commissioners is authorized by G.S. §§ 160D-1129 and 160D-1201 to exercise its police powers to repair, close or demolish the dwellings in the manner herein provided; and pursuant to the authority granted by G.S. §§ 160A-193, 160D-1129 and 160D-1201, it is the further intent of this article to provide for the repair, closing or demolition of any such unsafe or unsanitary dwellings, and abandoned structures in accordance with the provisions as are set forth in this article for the repair, closing or demolition of dwellings and/or structures, and to establish minimum standards of fitness for the initial and continued occupancy of all buildings used for human habitation.

(Adopted 11-2-2021)