(a) It is hereby declared that the purpose of this Title Three-Housing Code is to ensure the quality of housing now in existence as adequate for protection of public health, safety and general welfare including: establishment of minimum standards for equipment, utilities and facilities for light, ventilation, sanitary facilities, thermal conditions; for safety from fire and accidents; for use and occupancy; for an adequate level of maintenance; and provision for the administration and enforcement thereof, as set forth in this Title Three-Housing Code.
(b) It is hereby further declared that the purpose of this Housing Code is to ensure the proper repair and maintenance of residential buildings in the City and to protect, preserve and promote the physical and mental health and social well-being of the people, to regulate the purpose of maintaining adequate sanitation and public health and to protect the safety of the people and to promote the general welfare by legislation which shall be applicable to housing now in existence, and to fix certain duties and obligations of owners and occupants of dwellings and to establish civil remedies for the enforcement of this Housing Code.
(c) It is further declared that the purpose of this Housing Code is to ensure the proper repair or maintenance of residential buildings in the City, to assure the availability of decent and habitable rental property for all citizens, and to protect the health and safety of the people by authorizing the certification of dwellings as unfit for rental purposes and the designation of a proper escrow account for the receipt of suspended rent.
(1952 Code § 40-1-1.2; Ord. 847-74)