(a) General. If the Safety Service Director finds that a building or other structure is insecure, unsafe, structurally defective, and/or unfit for human occupancy, the Safety Service Director may condemn the building or other structure pursuant to the provisions of this Code and regardless of whether the property owner has been cited for a violation of any section of the Codified Ordinances.
(b) Notice. When the Safety Service Director has condemned a building or other structure, the Safety Service Director shall send a written notice to the owners of the property and to the holders of legal or equitable liens of record upon the real property on which the building or other structure is located, if any, (the "Condemnation Notice"). The Condemnation Notice shall include (i) a description of the property reasonably sufficient for identification; (ii) a statement explaining the reason(s) for which the building or other structure is insecure, unsafe, structurally defective, and/or unfit for human occupancy; (iii) reasonable time, not to exceed thirty (30) days, to make the repairs and improvements required to bring the building or other structure into compliance with the provisions of this Code and/or the other provisions of the Codified Ordinances; (iv) a statement that, if the building or other structure is not repaired or improved within the time given, the building or other structure is subject to demolition; (v) the warning required by § 1331.06 of this Code; and (vi) an explanation of the process for appeal. The Condemnation Notice shall be posted to the building or other structure and sent by United States certified mail to the property owners' last known tax billing address, pursuant to the tax records of Mahoning County, and the holders of legal or equitable liens of record upon the real property on which the building or other structure is located, if any. If the certified mail sent to the property owners and/or the holders of legal or equitable liens of record upon the real property on which the building or other structure is located is not successfully delivered, the Condemnation Notice shall then be published in local newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for three consecutive weeks.
(c) Placarding. Upon condemning a building or other structure, the Safety Service Director shall post a placard on the building or other structure bearing words to the effective of:
"CONDEMNED
DO NOT ENTER - UNSAFE TO OCCUPY
The City of Struthers, Ohio has determined that this property is insecure, unsafe, structurally defective, unfit for human occupancy, and/or in violation of the Codified Ordinances for the City Struthers, Ohio. It shall be unlawful for this building or other structure to be rented, leased, or occupied from the date of this notice until all required repairs have been made in a manner satisfactory to and approved, in writing, by the Safety Service Director, subject to occupants being given reasonable time thereafter, not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours, to vacate the building or other structure. Failure to comply with this order and/or mutilation, unauthorized removal and/or defacing of this placard is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $750.00."
(d) Occupied Buildings. When an occupied building or other structure is condemned and placarded by the Safety Service Director, all individuals shall be removed from the building or other structure within seventy-two (72) hours and no person shall enter, remain in, or occupy any placarded building or other structure except for the purposes of making the repairs or to comply with orders of the Safety Service Director. No owner, operator, agent or person responsible for a placarded building or other structure shall allow or permit anyone to occupy, enter, or remain in the placarded building or other structure except for the purposes of making the repairs or to comply with orders of the Safety Service Director. If any person fails to comply with the order of the Safety Service Director to vacate a condemned building or other structure, the Safety Service Director shall advise the Chief of Police and it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to vacate the building or other structure. The City shall not be held responsible for the costs of temporary lodging.
(e) Vacant Buildings. When a vacant building or other structure is condemned, the Safety Service Director may order the owners of the property to close up and/or secure the building or other structure so it will not be an attractive nuisance. If the owners of the property fail to close up and/or secure the building or other structure within the time specified in the order, the Safety Service Director shall cause it to be closed and/or secured through any available public agency or by contract or arrangement by private persons.
(f) Re-occupancy. If a building or other structure is condemned, the building or other structure shall not be reoccupied without the approval of the Safety Service Director.
(Ord. 19-005. Passed 1-23-19.)