Loading...
(a) The Department of Public Health ("DPH") shall create, and distribute, and maintain written information that clearly describes the rights and responsibilities of tenants, property owners, property managers, and licensed Pest Control Operators ("PCOs") regarding bed bug abatement. DPH shall review and, if needed, update this information at least once every three years.
(b) The DPH Environmental Health Section ("DPH-EHS") shall, in collaboration with the Department of Building Inspection Housing Inspection Division, after consultation with interested stakeholders and experts in the field, produce a training curriculum on proper bed bug abatement procedures for all property types. DPH-EHS shall complete the first curriculum within six months from the effective date of this ordinance, and shall review and update the curriculum at least once every three years to ensure that the content correctly reflects current best practices in bed bug abatement procedures.
(c) Property owners and managers shall investigate bed bug infestation complaints, and record and abate confirmed bed bug infestations in conformity with any rules adopted by DPH for the prevention and control of bed bug infestation under S.F. Health Code Section 581, or any successor provisions. Tenants shall comply with all rules adopted by DPH for the prevention and control of bed bug infestation under S.F. Health Code Section 581, or any successor provisions.
(d) With the exception of tourist hotels, at the request of a prospective tenant, a property owner and/or property manager shall furnish to the tenant written disclosure of the unit's bed bug infestation and abatement history for the previous two years. If there is no history of bed bug infestation, the property owner or manager shall disclose that fact in writing. Such written disclosure must be signed by the property owner and/or manager and tenant prior to the date the property owner and/or manager initially delivers possession of the premises to the tenant.
(e) Whenever the DPH Director, or her/his designee, issues a notice of violation to correct a bed bug infestation, DPH shall re-inspect the property after pest control treatment to verify abatement of the bed bug infestation. Re-inspection shall occur within 45 days of the last treatment.
(f) DPH-EHS shall, on the first day of each month, collect monthly reports from PCOs that include the number of units, by census tract, PCOs treated for bed bug infestations the previous month.
(g) DPH-EHS shall produce reports aggregating data and showing historical trends about all reported, active, and abated bed bug infested units. Such reports shall be available to the public on the DPH-EHS website.
(Added by Ord. 229-12, File No. 120815, App. 11/14/2012, Eff. 12/14/2012)
The Department shall issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) and follow the procedures established by S.F. Health Code Section 596 or 596.5 to a property owner and property manager, and/or tenant, for violations of this Article or any rules adopted by the DPH Director for prevention and control of bed bug infestation.
(Added by Ord. 229-12, File No. 120815, App. 11/14/2012, Eff. 12/14/2012)
Any property owner and/or property manager, or their agents, and/or tenant, who violate the provisions of this Article or any rules adopted by the DPH Director for prevention and control of bed bug infestations, shall be subject to penalties and shall be liable for administrative costs as set forth in S.F. Health Code Article 11.
(Added by Ord. 229-12, File No. 120815, App. 11/14/2012, Eff. 12/14/2012)
(a) The Health Department shall conduct a biannual public hearing to review the Rules and Regulations for the Prevention and Treatment of Bed Bug Infestations, and adopt amendments as determined to be appropriate under the goals and requirements of this Article. The Health Department may also consider and adopt amendments to the Rules and Regulations for the Prevention and Treatment of Bed Bug Infestations at other publicly noticed meetings, as needed to effectuate the goals and requirements of this Article.
(b) Interested parties, including, but not limited to, tenants, property owners and Pest Control Operators, may request that the Health Department amend the Rules and Regulations for the Prevention and Treatment of Bed Bug Infestations. Placement of such requests on a Health Department agenda or notice of hearing shall be at the discretion of the Director of Public Health.
(c) A public hearing or meeting noticed under this Section 624 shall be noticed for a minimum of ten (10) days. Notice shall be provided to interested parties, including, but not limited to, tenants, property owners and Pest Control Operators, according to Health Department rules and regulations promulgated for this purpose.
(Added by Ord. 229-12, File No. 120815, App. 11/14/2012, Eff. 12/14/2012)