1331.07 INSPECTIONS.

   (a)    Type of Inspections.

      (1)    Regularly scheduled inspections. All residential rental dwelling units shall be inspected, where possible, every two years for compliance with Norwood Property Maintenance Code (NPMC). These inspections shall be completed before the certificate of use and occupancy required by Section 1331.08(d) can be issued.

      (2)    Owner requested inspections. Upon written request from the owner, an existing building, structure or premises shall be inspected for compliance with NPMC. This applies to owner-occupied dwelling units which are not required to have regularly scheduled inspections and inspections required prior to the transfer of ownership by Section 1331.08(e).

      (3)    Commercial inspections. Business and industrial establishments, buildings, structures or premises shall be inspected on a regularly scheduled basis by fire and health inspectors. Unscheduled inspections shall be made by a building inspector to assure compliance with NPMC.

      (4)    Inspections for unlawful conditions. The Code Official shall make or cause to be made an inspection of any existing building, structure, premises or equipment that he has reason to believe is dangerous, unsanitary or unsafe.
(Ord. 72-1983. Passed 11-22-83.)

   (b)    Right of Entry.

      (l)    Access by Code Official. In order to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of the public, the Code Official is authorized to attempt at any reasonable time to obtain consent to enter any structure or premises. At no time shall the Code Official enter any dwelling unit without first obtaining the written consent of the occupant of that dwelling unit, or a search warrant. Such occupant shall be informed that entry by the Code Official is sought for the purpose of making inspections and performing duties under NPMC. If the Code Official, after a reasonable attempt to obtain consent, does not receive consent to enter, the Code Official may seek in a court of competent jurisdiction, a search warrant to allow entry. An owner, occupant or other person in charge of a dwelling or structure subject to the provisions of NPMC, who is presented with such search warrant, shall not refuse, impede, inhibit, interfere with, restrict or obstruct entry and free access to any part of the structure or premises where an inspection authorized by the search warrant is sought to be made.

      (2)    Access by owner or operator. Every occupant of a structure or premises shall give the owner or operator thereof, or agent or employee, access to any part of such structure or its premises at reasonable times for the purpose of performing maintenance, repairs or alterations as are necessary to comply with the provisions of NPMC. For the purposes of this section, reasonable times shall be defined as any time between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. with advance notice of at least twenty-four hours time.
(Ord. 17-1987. Passed 4-28-87.)

      (3)    Credentials. The Code Official or the Code Official's authorized representative shall disclose proper credentials of their respective office for the purpose of inspecting any and all buildings and premises in the performance of duties under NPMC.

      (4)    Coordinated inspections. Whenever in the enforcement of NPMC or other codes or ordinances the responsibility of more than one City enforcement official may be involved, it shall be their duty to coordinate their inspections and administrative orders as fully as practicable so that the owners and occupants of the structures shall not be subjected to visits by numerous inspectors nor multiple or conflicting orders. Whenever an inspector from any agency or department observes an apparent or actual violation of some provision of some law, ordinance or code of the City, not within his authority to enforce, he shall report his findings to the official having jurisdiction in order that such official may institute the necessary corrective measures.
(Ord. 72-1983. Passed 11-22-83.)