(A) Cumulative remedies. The remedies, penalties and other provisions of this chapter are cumulative to each other and to any other available under other city ordinances, state law, common law or equity, and nothing in this chapter shall be read, interpreted or construed in any manner so as to limit any existing right or power of the city to abate neglected vacant buildings.
(B) Compliance required. It is unlawful for any person who owns, controls, or is the responsible agent for a vacant building to maintain, or cause or permit the maintenance of the vacant building as a neglected vacant building or in a neglected condition.
(C) Neglected vacant building; public nuisance. A neglected vacant building is declared to be a public nuisance.
(D) Structural and building standards.
(1) All vacant buildings shall be maintained in a structurally sound condition.
(2) All electrical, natural gas, sanitary, and plumbing facilities shall be maintained in a condition which does not create a hazard to public health or safety.
(E) Fire safety standards.
(1) All vacant buildings shall be maintained in a manner which does not create an unreasonable risk of fire, including the removal of weeds, brush, vegetation, and debris which may constitute a fire hazard.
(2) No vacant building or portion thereof shall be used for the storage of hazardous, combustible or flammable liquids or other materials which would constitute a safety or fire hazard.
(3) Heating facilities or heating equipment in vacant buildings shall either be removed or maintained in accordance with applicable codes and ordinances. If heating equipment is removed, any fuel supply shall be removed or terminated in accordance with applicable codes and ordinances.
(4) The street address of the building shall be posted and shall be visible from the street.
(F) Security standards.
(1) All vacant buildings shall be maintained in a way which secures it from any unauthorized entry.
(2) The owner or responsible agent of a vacant building which has remained unoccupied for a period of more than 30 days and which has suffered from vandalism, broken windows, broken doors or which had an unauthorized entry must provide security which is adequate to prevent further deterioration and/or unauthorized entry and must meet or exceed the following minimum standards:
(a) All windows and sliding doors shall provide resistance to entry equivalent to or greater than that of a solid sheet of ” CCX plywood, cut to fit the opening, and securely nailed using 10D galvanized nails into the header, trimmer stud and sill, spaced not more than six inches on the center.
(b) Doors and service openings with thresholds located ten feet or less above grade, or a stairway, landing, ramp, porch, roof or similarly accessible area shall provide resistance to entry equivalent to or greater than that of a closed solid core door 1” thick equipped with a 1" throw deadbolt with 2½” long # 8 screws in the strike-plate penetrating into the trimmer stud.
(c) As an alternate to division (F)(2)(b) of this section and except as provided in division (F)(2)(d) of this section, exterior doors shall be secured from the interior of the building by toe nailing them to the door frame using 16D galvanized nails nailed at 6" on center penetrating into the trimmer stud.
(d) There shall be at least one operable door into each building and into each unit of the building. If an existing door is operable, it may be used and secured with a suitable lock such as a hasp and padlock or a 1" deadbolt or deadlatch with 2½” long # 8 screws in the strike-plate penetrating into the trimmer stud.
(e) All locks shall be kept locked. When a door cannot be made operable, a replacement door shall be constructed of ¾” CCX plywood and shall be secured as described in divisions (F)(2)(b) and (c) of this section.
(G) Debris removal. All vacant buildings including all adjoining yard areas shall be maintained free of debris, combustible materials, litter and garbage.
(H) Appearance.
(1) All vacant buildings must be maintained in a manner which minimizes the appearance of vacancy, including the prompt removal of graffiti.
(2) All exterior surfaces, including any boarded windows or doors shall be applied with sufficient paint, siding, stucco or other finish to weatherproof the vacant building and to create a sufficient appearance of repair to deter unauthorized entry or occupation. Vacant buildings subject to an existing use permit shall maintain the landscaping and exterior of the building in compliance with the use permit.
(3) The exterior of the vacant building property, including all landscaping, shall be kept in such condition as not to create the appearance of an unsecured, unoccupied structure or other hazard to public safety.
(4) Signage and its support(s) that no longer relate to the activities in the building shall be removed from the site. Any remaining signage shall be maintained in a manner which minimizes the appearance of vacancy.
(I) Violations. Any person violating the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor for each day such violation continues.
(J) Enforcement. Violations of this chapter may be abated as a public nuisance pursuant to Chapter 15.1 of this code.
(Ord. 1074, passed 7-18-2023)