The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety, and the general welfare of the people of this City. The general objectives include, among others, the following:
A. To protect the character and stability of all buildings and property within the City.
B. To correct and prevent conditions that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the life, safety, general welfare, and health, including the physical, mental and social well-being of persons occupying buildings within Sleepy Eye.
C. To provide minimum standards for cooking, heating, and sanitary equipment necessary to the health and safety of occupants of buildings.
D. To provide minimum standards for light and ventilation, necessary to health and safety.
E. To prevent the overcrowding of dwellings by providing space standards per occupant for each dwelling.
F. To provide minimum standards for the maintenance of existing buildings, and to thus prevent slums and blight.
G. To preserve the value of land and buildings throughout the City.
With respect to rental disputes, and except as otherwise specifically provided by the terms of this chapter, it is not the intention of the City Council to intrude upon the fair and accepted contractual relationship between tenant and landlord. The City Council does not intend to intervene as an advocate of either party, nor to act as an arbiter, nor to be receptive to complaints for tenant or landlord which are not specifically and clearly relevant to the provisions of this chapter. In the absence of such relevancy with regard to rental disputes, it is intended that the contracting parties exercise such legal sanctions as are available to them without the intervention of City government. Neither in enacting this chapter is it the intention of the City Council to interfere or permit interference with legal rights to personal privacy. (Ord. 83, 2nd Series, 3-14-2006)