(a) Vacating Structures. When the Building Commissioner determines that there is actual and immediate risk of failure or collapse of a building or structure or any part thereof or the existence of defective equipment or service facilities such as to endanger life or health, or when any structure or part of a structure has fallen or failed and use or occupancy of the structure, equipment, service facility and/or equipment or part thereof would, in his opinion, endanger life or health or where there is a particularly hazardous use of the building or structure such as to endanger life or health, the Building Commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to order and require the occupants and tenants to vacate the same forthwith, and/or to immediately cease, and refrain from use or operation of the building, structure, equipment, service facility or part thereof which is deemed dangerous or to cease such hazardous use. The Building Commissioner shall placard the building, structure or premises in accordance with the procedures of Section 1305.11. No person shall enter such building, structure or premises except for the purpose of making the required repairs or of demolishing the same.
(b) Temporary Safeguards. When the Building Commissioner determines that an emergency exists such that there is actual and immediate danger of collapse or failure of a building or structure or any part thereof which would endanger life, the Building Commissioner shall cause the necessary work to be done to render such building or structure or part thereof temporarily safe. Prior to any work being done to the building or structure, the Building Commissioner shall give notice to the owner and lien holders of record advising them of his intention to make the building or structure temporarily safe.
(c) Closing Streets. When necessary for the public safety, the Building Commissioner may temporarily close sidewalks, streets, buildings and structures and places adjacent to such unsafe structure, and prohibit the same from being used until the unsafe condition has been abated.
(d) Emergency Repairs. For the purposes of this section, the Building Commissioner shall employ the necessary labor and materials to perform the required work as expeditiously as possible.
(e) Costs of Emergency Repairs. Costs incurred in the performance of emergency work shall be paid by the City Treasurer on certification of the Building Commissioner. The Law Director shall institute appropriate action against the owner of the premises where the unsafe building, structure, equipment or service facility is or was located for the recovery of such costs in the manner provided by Section 1305.10(k).
(Ord. 15-2010. Passed 4-13-10.)