(A) Every structure within the town's jurisdiction shall be deemed in violation of this article whenever such structure constitutes a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the town citizens. The enforcing agent may declare a non-residential structure or building to be unsafe as a result of:
(1) Vacancy or abandonment;
(2) Dilapidated conditions causing or contributing to blight, disease and/or safety hazards;
(3) The attraction of insects, rodents and/or snakes including the collection of garbage or rubbish in or near the structure which might attract rodents, snakes and/or insects or become breeding places for rodents, snakes and/or insects;
(4) Conditions creating a fire hazard;
(5) Dangerous conditions constituting a threat to children, such as the use of such structure or nearby grounds or facilities by children as a play area, or violations of the State Building Code which might result in danger to children using the structure or facilities as a play area;
(6) Repeated use of such structure in the absence of sanitary facilities, for living, sleeping, cooking or eating;
(7) In violation of the State Building Code, or the State Electrical Code or the Fire Prevention Code which constitutes a fire hazard in such structure, or the International Property Management Code as adopted by the town in § 5-4.40.
(8) Violation of the standards established by the town in this article.
(B) It is the policy of the Board of Commissioners to encourage property owners to secure unoccupied buildings from entry temporarily, until the building may be repaired or demolished. It shall be no defense to the enforcement of this article that an unoccupied building has been secured from entry by boarding up the doors, windows or other entry points. If a building remains unoccupied and boarded up for a period of more than one year, it shall be taken as evidence that the owner(s) have abandoned the intent and purpose to repair, alter or improve the building.
(Adopted 11-2-2021)