(A) Dangerous buildings specified. Any building or structure that has one or more of the following conditions or defects shall be deemed to be a dangerous building when such conditions or defects endanger the life, health, property, or safety of the occupants or the public.
(1) Whenever any door, aisle, hallway, passageway, stairway, or other means of exit is not of sufficient width or size, or is not so arranged as to provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic.
(2) Whenever the walking surface of any aisle, hallway, passageway, stairway, or other means of exit is so warped, buckled, worn, loose, torn, or otherwise unsafe as to not provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic.
(3) Whenever the stress in any materials, member or portion thereof, due to all dead and live loads, is more than one and one-half times the working stress or stresses allowed in the Red Bluff Municipal Code, the California Building Code, or any other code adopted by the city for new buildings of similar structure, purpose or location.
(4) Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, or by any other cause, to such an extent that the structural strength or stability thereof is materially less than it was before such catastrophe and is less than the minimum requirements of the Red Bluff Municipal Code, the California Building Code, or any other code adopted by the city for new buildings of similar structure, purpose or location.
(5) Whenever any portion or member of a building or appurtenance thereof is likely to fail, or to become detached or dislodged, or to collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property.
(6) Whenever any portion of a building or any member, appurtenance, or ornamentation on the exterior thereof is not of sufficient strength or stability, or is not so anchored, attached, or fastened in place so as to be capable of resisting a wind pressure of two-thirds of that specified in the Red Bluff Municipal Code, the California Building Code, or any other code adopted by the city for new buildings of similar structure, purpose, or location without exceeding the working stresses permitted in the Red Bluff Municipal Code, the California Building Code, or any other code adopted by the city for such buildings.
(7) Whenever any portion thereof has wracked, warped, buckled, or settled to such an extent that walls or other structural portions have materially less resistance to winds or earthquakes than is required in the case of similar new construction.
(8) Whenever the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is likely to partially or completely collapse because of:
(a) Dilapidation, deterioration or decay;
(b) Faulty construction;
(c) The removal, movement or instability of any portion of the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting such building;
(d) The deterioration, decay or inadequacy of its foundation; or
(e) Any other cause.
(9) Whenever, for any reason, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose for which it is being used.
(10) Whenever the exterior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean, or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity does not fall inside the middle one-third of the base.
(11) Whenever the building or structure, exclusive of the foundation, shows 33% or more damage or deterioration of its supporting member or members, or 50% damage or deterioration of its nonsupporting members, enclosing or outside walls or coverings.
(12) Whenever the building or structure has been so damaged by fire, wind, earthquake, or flood, or has become so dilapidated or deteriorated as to become an attractive nuisance to children or a harbor for vagrants or criminals.
(13) Whenever any building or structure has been constructed, exists, or is maintained in violation of any specific requirement or prohibition applicable to such building or structure provided by the Red Bluff Municipal Code, the California Building Code, the California Fire Code, any other code adopted by the city, or any law or ordinance of this state or city relating to the condition, location, or structure of buildings.
(14) Whenever any building or structure which, whether or not erected in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinances, has in any non-supporting part, member, or portion, less than 50% or in any supporting part, member, or portion less than 66%, of the: (1) strength; (2) fire-resisting qualities or characteristics; or (3) weather-resisting qualities or characteristics required by law in the case of a newly constructed building of like area, height, and occupancy in the same location.
(15) Whenever a building or structure, used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, damage, faulty construction, or arrangement, inadequate light, air or sanitation facilities, insects, rodents, pests or other vectors, or otherwise, is determined by the building official or health officer to be unsanitary, unfit for human habitation, or in such a condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease.
(16) Whenever the Fire Chief has determined that a building, structure, or the premises thereof constitutes a fire hazard for any of the following reasons:
(a) Dangerous or unlawful amounts of combustible, explosive, or otherwise hazardous materials;
(b) Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly installed equipment for handling or using combustible, explosive, or otherwise hazardous materials;
(c) Dangerous accumulations of rubbish, waste paper, boxes, shavings, or other highly flammable materials;
(d) Accumulations of dust or waste material in air conditioning or ventilating systems, or accumulations of grease in kitchen or other exhaust ducts;
(e) Obstructions to or upon fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows, liable to interfere with the operations of the fire department or egress of occupants in case of fire;
(f) Other conditions including, but not limited to, want of repairs, lack of adequate exit facilities, required automatic or other fire alarm apparatus or fire extinguishing equipment, which create a hazardous condition.
(17) Whenever any building or structure, because of lack of fire-resistive construction, or other cause, is determined by the building official or Fire Chief to be a fire hazard to life, health or property.
(18) Whenever any building or structure, because of faulty electrical wiring or other cause, is determined by the building official or Fire Chief to be an electrical or fire hazard to life, health or property.
(19) Whenever any building or structure, because of faulty gas connections, heating apparatus or water and sewer systems, or other cause, is determined by the building official or Fire Chief to be a hazard to life, health or property.
(20) Whenever any portion of a building or structure remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of the building or structure or whenever any building or structure is vacant, unoccupied, or abandoned for a period in excess of six months such that the building or portion thereof is an attractive nuisance or hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
(B) Abatement of dangerous buildings.
(1) Whenever an enforcement officer has inspected or caused to be inspected any building or structure and has found and determined that such building or structure is a DANGEROUS BUILDING as defined in this chapter, he or she shall commence an administrative proceeding to repair, vacate, secure, or demolish the building or structure.
(2) Administrative proceedings to repair, vacate, secure, or demolish a dangerous building shall be governed by the provisions of § 15.17 of this title. To commence such action, an enforcement officer shall issue a compliance order. In addition to the information required by § 15.8 of this title, the compliance order shall contain:
(a) A statement that the enforcement officer has found the building to be dangerous, with a brief and concise description of the conditions found to render the building dangerous under the provisions of § 15.17 of this chapter.
(b) A statement that the building must be repaired or demolished at the option of the owner within the following time limits:
1. If the owner elects to repair the building, all required permits for repair shall be secured therefore and the work physically commenced within 30 calendar days from the date of the compliance order and completed within such time as the enforcement officer shall determine is reasonable under all of the circumstances; or
2. If the owner elects to demolish the building, all required demolition permits shall be secured, and demolition commenced, not later than 30 calendar days from the date of the order, and that demolition be completed within such time as the enforcement officer shall determine is reasonable.
(c) A statement advising that if, prior to compliance, the building or conditions in the building or on the property becomes an immediately dangerous building or immediately dangerous condition as defined in this chapter, the city may abate the immediately dangerous building as provided for such buildings or conditions in this chapter.
(d) A statement advising that if any required repair or demolition work is not commenced or completed within the time specified, the enforcement officer:
1. May order the building vacated and posted to prevent further occupancy until the work is completed if the building or structure is in such condition as to make it immediately dangerous to the life, limb, property, or safety of the public or its occupants, or if the city's building official determines that repair or demolition of the building or structure cannot be accomplished without making it immediately dangerous to life, limb, property or safety of the public or its occupants;
2. May order the immediate disconnection of hazardous utility services (electricity, gas, sewer or water); and
3. May proceed to repair, secure, or demolish the building and charge the costs thereof against the property and its owner.
(Ord. 1074, passed 7-18-2023)