As used in this chapter:
(a) “Owner.” The registered owner of a property, any person who holds legal or equitable title to the property, a mortgagee, a vendee-in-possession, assignee of rents, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation that is directly or indirectly in control of a property or premises. The owner of a property or premises in default or for which a foreclosure action is pending or for which a judgment in foreclosure has been issued shall include the mortgagee, the successor in interest to the mortgagee, the lender or servicing company and any agent acting for the mortgagee, its successors, or a lender or servicing company. Under this definition, there may be more than one "owner" of a property or premises for purposes of this chapter.
(b) “Person.” An individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or any other group acting as a unit.
(c) “Person in control.” The owner of a freehold estate of the premises; a mortgagee or vendee in possession; a receiver; an executor; a trustee; and any person, public or private entity, lessee, or holder of a lesser estate in the premises, and/or its duly authorized agent(s), with the authority to bring a building or premises into compliance with the provisions of this Code, including, but not limited to, a mortgagee that has filed an action in foreclosure on the premises at issue, based on breach or default of a mortgage agreement and which mortgagee is in actual or constructive possession of the premises, until title to the premises is transferred to a third party.
(d) “Premises.” A lot, plot or parcel of land, easement or public way, including any structures thereon.
(e) “Strict liability offense.” An offense which the prosecution is not required to prove criminal intent as part of its case. It is enough to prove that the offender either did an act which was prohibited or failed to do an act which the defendant was legally required to do in order to sustain a prosecution under this Code.
(f) “Undue hardship.” A hardship peculiar to the situation of the owner, which is of such a degree of severity that its imposition is not necessary to carry out the spirit of this Code, and amounts to a substantial and unnecessary injustice to the person.
(Ord. 1564-19. Passed 8-20-19.)