(A) The Building Inspector shall designate a structure as contaminated when a law enforcement agency discovers a methamphetamine or other illegal drug lab inside the structure, or discovers methamphetamine or other illegal drug-making chemicals or chemical containers are found inside or near the structure, or when inspection reveals the property is contaminated; provided, that if the contaminated structure is a room in a hotel motel, apartment house, condominium or townhouse, the area initially designated as contaminated shall include the room on each side of the room that is contaminated; provided, however, that the contaminated designation applicable to the adjacent rooms shall continue until the decontamination contractor determines those rooms are not contaminated.
(B) If the structure is designated contaminated, the Building Inspector shall immediately post “DANGER-UNSAFE FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY” and “NO TRESPASSING” placards on the structure, shall board up windows and doors to prevent access and shall prohibit use of all portions of the property; provided, that if the property owner has not within 14 days immediately succeeding the day the property was designated as being contaminated, commenced action to have the property decontaminated, the Building Inspector shall remove the “DANGER-UNSAFE FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY” placard and post “CONDEMNED” placards on the structure.
(C) If the Building Inspector designates the property contaminated, the Building Inspector shall document the findings; provided, that such documentation shall include:
(1) Description from law enforcement;
(2) Photographs of the property;
(3) Name of the property owner;
(4) Mailing and street address of the property owner;
(5) Tax map and parcel number of the property; and
(6) Clear directions for locating the property.
(D) The testing and decontamination standard is that methamphetamine or other illegal drug levels shall be less than or equal to 0.1 micrograms per 100 square centimeters; provided, that the Building Inspector may require testing and decontamination for additional hazardous chemicals if other hazardous chemicals are present at the property where the methamphetamine lab was discovered. The decontamination standards for any additional chemicals will be determined by using currently established federal toxicity levels.
(Ord. 09-14, passed 12-15-2009)