Whenever a petition is filed with the Code Enforcement Officer by a public authority, or by at least five residents of the city, charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, or whenever it appears to the Code Enforcement Officer (on his own motion) that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, the Code Enforcement Officer shall, if his inspection discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner and parties in interest in such dwellings, a complaint stating the charges in that respect, and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Code Enforcement Officer (or his designated agent) at a place within the county in which the property is located, fixed not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the serving of the complaint. The owner and parties in interest shall have the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint. The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Code Enforcement Officer.
(Ord. passed 2-18-92; Am. Ord. O-1999-37, passed 6-15-99; Am. Ord. O-1999-61, passed 10-5-99; Am. Ord. O-2022-54, passed 7-12-22)