The Council or its designee shall inspect buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, and accessory structures and premises based on the following provisions.
(A) The Council or its designee is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections where probable cause exists or with consent of the owner, agent, or occupant to determine the condition of buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, and premises located within the town in order that they may perform their duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants of dwellings and of the general.
(1) For the purpose of making such inspections, the Council or its designee is hereby authorized to enter, examine, and survey at all reasonable times all buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, and premises.
(2) In the event the owner or occupant of any building, dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit or the person in charge thereof refuses to give the Council or its designee free access to such dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit and its premises, the Council or its designee may apply for an inspection warrant pursuant to I.C. 36-7-9-16.
(B) Where conditions of an area, passage of time, the nature of the building, or a need to conduct a periodic, area-wide inspection exists, and where a showing of such is made by affidavit, an inspection warrant shall be issued by a court of record in the county directing the inspection of the property concerned.
(C) The Council or its designee is authorized, in order to protect the life, health, and safety of persons or property, to take emergency action and recover costs.
(D) The Council or its designee is authorized and directed to proceed with a full inspection of any structure that is deemed to be a public nuisance by the fact that it is unsealed, unsecured, and vacant.
(Ord. 2006-1, passed 7-20-2006)