All rental buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, other structures, and land contracts shall be maintained in good repair. No owner, operator, or agent shall rent or lease or offer for rental or lease any dwelling units, or other structures, or any part thereof which does not comply with the provisions of this ordinance.
(a) Exterior Standards.
(1) The exterior walls of each rental shall have no loose siding, no loose clapboards or other siding material, and no loose or falling bricks, blocks or tiles.
(2) Each dwelling unit shall have no cornices or gutters sagging or falling from the structure.
(3) Every window, exterior door and basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be reasonably weather tight, water tight and rodent proof, and shall be in sound working condition and good repair.
(4) All windows shall be free from broken glass, cracks, or deterioration.
(5) Every foundation, exterior wall shall be substantially weather tight, water tight, and rodent proof. Each foundation and exterior wall shall be kept in good repair and sound condition, and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(6) All roofs of every dwelling structure shall be maintained in a workmanlike manner and shall be equipped with gutters and downspouts which outlet in an approved manner.
(b) Chimneys and Smoke Pipes.
(1) There shall be no loose or falling bricks, blocks or tiles from the chimney(s).
(2) All chimneys and smoke pipes shall be adequately supported and reasonably clean and maintained in such condition that will not allow leakage or backing up of noxious gas or fumes.
(3) All chimneys and smoke pipes shall be in good repair so that they do not endanger neighboring properties.
(c) Furnaces and Heating Systems.
(1) Furnaces and heating systems shall work properly and be capable of performing the function for which they were intended to be used.
(2) Furnaces and heating systems shall be reasonably clean and maintained in such condition that will not allow leakage or backing up of noxious gas or fumes.
(3) Heating ducts, registers, and cold air returns shall be in proper condition and free of any obstruction.
(4) Each furnace and heating system must be properly and correctly ventilated so there is no danger to the occupants.
(5) Every heating system or furnace burning solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel shall be connected to an approved smokepipe and flue.
(6) Every dwelling unit shall be provided with approved heating facilities capable of maintaining an adequate temperature in all habitable rooms.
(7) No heating equipment, including water haters, which burns solids, liquid or gaseous fuel shall be located in any bedroom, bathroom toilet room, or any room used for sleeping purposes unless specifically approved for such use. The flame must be protected.
(d) Electrical Fixtures.
(1) There shall be no bare or exposed wiring, either external or internal.
(2) Every dwelling structure shall be provided with approved electrical service, outlets and fixtures which shall be installed and maintained so as to be free of any source of potential ignition of combustible material or any potential source of electrical hazard. Such facilities shall be approved as being adequate to supply the requirements of lighting, appliances, and equipment of the structure concerned.
(e) Plumbing and Sanitary Fixtures.
(1) Every dwelling unit shall be supplied with water heating facilities which are installed in an approved manner properly maintained and properly connected with hot water lines to the fixtures required to be supplied with hot water. Such water heating facilities shall be capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120o Fahrenheit under normal use.
(2) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be supplied with running water from the municipal water supply system provided that where no Municipal water supply system is available within 200 feet of a structure, the fixtures therein may be supplied with running water from an approved private water supply system.
(3) All sinks, lavatories, tubs, and showers shall be supplied with hot and cold running water properly connected to plumbing fixtures.
(4) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be so designed as to prevent contamination of the water supply system, and shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
(5) All plumbing fixtures in a dwelling structure shall be connected to a public sanitary sewer provided that where no public sanitary sewer is available within 200 feet of a structure, the fixtures therein may be connected on an approved private sewage disposal system.
(6) Every dwelling unit shall be provided with not less than a sink, toilet, a bathtub and/or shower which shall afford privacy to any occupant. No kitchen facilities shall be placed within any water closet compartment or within any bathroom.
(f) Stairways, Railings, and Porches.
(1) All stairways, railings, and porches shall be maintained in a good state of repair and capable of supporting the loads that the normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(2) Railings shall be sturdy and safe. If the railings have spindles, there shall be no missing spindles and all spindles shall be sturdy.
(3) Steps shall be maintained in good repair.
(4) All buckled, rotted, or decayed porches, steps, railings and their missing members must be replaced and put in good condition. All replacements must be permanent and must be compatible with the original design.
(g) Doors; Interior and Exterior.
(1) All doors shall fit and operate properly.
(2) All doors shall be sturdy and safe. If the railings have spindles, there shall be no missing spindles and all spindles shall be sturdy.
(3) If there are screen and/or storm doors, they must be in good repair and adequate hardware. They shall fit properly and perform the function for which they were designed.
(h) Interior Walls: Free-Standing and Load-Bearing.
(1) There shall be no holes in the walls that can cause or create a health, safety, or fire hazard.
(2) Paint or any type of wall covering shall be maintained in a satisfactory condition. If the paint is flaking, loose, or peeling it must be scraped clean. No lead base paint shall be used on walls.
(3) All interior walls shall be free of large cracks and any loose or deteriorated equipment.
(4) No interior wall shall list, lean, or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside the middle third of it's base.
(i) Interior Floors.
(1) The floors shall be sturdy, safe, and maintained to support reasonable weights and loads placed on them.
(2) There shall be no sagging in the floors due to deterioration.
(3) All floors shall be substantially rodent proof; shall be free of holes, wide cracks, and loose, protruding, warped or rotting floor boards which might constitute a possible accident hazard.
(4) If floor covering is provided by the owner, it must be maintained in satisfactory condition.
(j) Smoke Detectors. Properly installed and functioning smoke detector(s) shall be placed in each dwelling by the landlord. Thereafter it shall be the responsibility of the tenant to keep working batteries installed.
(k) Rubbish and Garbage Disposal.
(1) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall dispose of all his rubbish and garbage in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in approved receptacles with proper fitting lids.
(2) The occupant must place his rubbish and garbage in non-leakable, non-absorbent receptacles that are insect, rodent, and animal proof.
(3) Fifty-five gallon capacity barrels are not permitted, unless supplied with a tight-fitting lid.
(4) The owner, or occupant, as agreed between them of each dwelling unit shall provide for garbage and rubbish pickup on a regular basis; preferably on a weekly basis.
(l) Exterior Property Areas. No owner or operator of any dwelling unit shall maintain or permit to be maintained at or on the exterior property areas of such premises any condition which deteriorates the neighborhood, or creates a fire safety or health hazard, or which is a public nuisance; including but not limited to the following:
(1) Broken or dilapidated fences, walls, or other structures;
(2) Broken, uneven, or improperly maintained walks or driveways must be repaired in a workmanlike manner.
(3) Out of use or nonusable appliances, dilapidated automobiles, or automobile parts;
(4) Lawns and landscaping shall be maintained and shall be kept from becoming overgrown.
(5) Broken, dilapidated, or unusable furniture, mattresses, or other household furniture, broken glass, plastic materials, paints, miscellaneous coverings, and/or other materials placed at or on the premises.
(m) Infestation. All dwelling structures and the premises thereof shall be maintained free from sources of breeding, harborage, and infestation by insects, vermin or rodent.
(Ord. 2-90. Passed 3-8-90.)