A. Any rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit which is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, or vermin or rodent infested, or which lacks provision for basic illumination, ventilation or sanitary facilities to the extent that the defects create a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of the public may be declared unfit for human habitation. Whenever any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit or rooming unit has been declared unfit for human habitation, the compliance official shall order the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit vacated within a reasonable amount of time and shall post a placard on the dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit indicating that it is unfit for human habitation, and any operating license previously issued for such dwelling shall be revoked.
B. It shall be unlawful for such rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit to be used for human habitation until the defective conditions have been corrected and written approval has been issued by the compliance official. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or remove the declaration placard from any such rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit.
C. The owner of any rental dwelling or rental dwelling unit which has been declared unfit for human habitation, or which is otherwise vacant for a period of sixty (60) days or more, shall make the dwelling or dwelling unit safe and secure so that it is not hazardous to the health, safety and welfare of the public and does not constitute a public nuisance. Any vacant dwelling open at doors or windows, if unguarded, shall be deemed to be a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public and a public nuisance within the meaning of this chapter.
D. If a rental dwelling unit has been declared unfit for human habitation and the owner has not remedied the defects within a prescribed reasonable time, the dwelling may be declared a hazardous building and treated consistent with the provisions of State Statutes.
(Prior Code § 7-11-11)