(A) Every owner or manager of a dwelling unit shall provide garbage collection in which the occupants shall deposit all garbage and refuse accumulating upon the premises. In multiple family dwellings, the owner shall supply containers. The vicinity of the containers shall be kept free of garbage and refuse by the owner or person in charge.
(B) Every owner or manager of a dwelling unit shall provide to the Code Enforcement Office contact information for those persons responsible for the removal of snow.
(C) The occupant of a dwelling unit shall not disable any required smoke alarms.
(D) The occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit, and premises thereof which he or she occupies and controls.
(E) Each owner of a registered dwelling unit who does not reside within 100 miles of the City of Vermillion shall appoint a manager residing within 100 miles of the City of Vermillion. The city may serve notices pertaining to the administration of this chapter or of any provisions of the city’s laws, rules, regulations, resolutions, ordinances and codes pertaining to such dwelling unit upon the manager and service upon the manager shall constitute service upon the owner.
(F) The owner or manager of a dwelling unit, shall provide, upon request, a copy of the lease showing the occupants of each dwelling unit(s). This document shall be sufficient in detail to allow the inspector to determine the occupants of each dwelling unit and prevent overcrowding.
(G) All registered rental units shall be provided with smoke alarms that receive their primary power from the building wiring and when primary power is interrupted shall receive power from a battery.
Exceptions:
(1) Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power.
(2) Interconnection of hard-wired smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required where the alterations or repairs result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available which could provide access for interconnection of hard-wired smoke alarms without the removal of interior finishes.
(H) All registered rental units shall be provided with carbon monoxide alarms and shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in dwelling units with fuel-fired appliances and/or attached garages.
(I) The type and installation of these required smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms shall be regulated by the 2009 International Residential Code as adopted by the City of Vermillion.
(J) All registered rental units shall be provided with emergency escape and rescue openings in each sleeping room located below the fourth story.
(1) Structures built in or after 1986 shall be provided with emergency escape and rescue openings that conform to the requirements of the International Building code(s) 2012 edition.
(2) Structures built in or after 1974 and before 1986 shall be allowed to utilize windows that have a minimum net clear opening of 5.0 square feet and shall have a sill height of not more than 48 inches above the floor. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 20 inches. The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20 inches. The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.
(3) Structures built before 1974 shall be allowed to utilize windows that have a minimum net clear opening of 4.5 square feet. One fixed step with a rise of no more than 7-3/4 inches and a tread of no less than 10 inches and a width no less than the window served, may be used to gain access to the window. The sill height shall be no more than 48 inches from the step to the finished sill. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 20 inches. The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 18 inches. The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.
Exception: Lawfully established and maintained non-conforming emergency, escape and rescue openings in rental units registered before March 17, 2014 may continue to be used. Emergency, escape and rescue, openings that do not pose an imminent danger to the occupants as deemed hazardous by the Fire Chief shall have until July 1, 2019 to comply with this code. The Fire Chief of the City of Vermillion has determined that emergency, escape and rescue openings that are less than 18" in width 24" in height or are less than 3 square feet in area create an imminent danger and an unsafe condition; therefore any window that fails to meet these standards shall be replaced no later than September 1, 2014. All rental units that do not meet the minimum size established herein shall post a notice on the inside of each bedroom door(s) stating that the emergency, escape and rescue opening(s) do not meet the minimum standard established by this code. After July 1, 2019 all rental units shall comply with the minimum sizes established herein.
(4) Buildings located in Historic districts or on the state or national register of historic places may be granted the same exception as those buildings located in the C-B district, when judged by the Building Official to not constitute a distinct life safety hazard.
(5) Existing windows shall be maintained in a manner that maintains the level of protection provided for the means of egress.
(6) Owners may apply for a time extension to modify non-compliant windows, using the form provided by the Housing Inspector.
(7) Rental units new to the registry shall be required to comply with the emergency escape and opening requirements determined by the time of construction.
Exception: Dwelling units in the C-B Central Business may utilize approved windows or openings in adjoining rooms. In no case shall an occupant have to go through more than 1 adjoining room to reach an approved emergency escape and rescue opening and only when judged by the Building Official to not constitute a distinct life safety hazard.
(K) All dwelling units shall be constructed in such a manner that return air from 1 dwelling is not discharged into another dwelling unit through the heating or cooling air systems.
(1) Each separate dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of 68°F (28°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.
(2) Where privacy is required, such as in bedrooms and bathrooms the heating facilities shall be capable of maintaining the required room temperature with the doors closed.
(3) Effective August 1, 2014 all registered rental units shall be required to comply with these return air limitations, to provide separate and controllable heat sources to each dwelling unit in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. Installation or replacement of hearing units shall comply with the Uniform Mechanical Code and the manufacturer's installation instructions; unvented or portable units shall not be used.
(4) Owners may apply for a time extension to comply with the deadline, using the form provided by the Housing Inspector.
(Ord. 1255, passed 8-1-2011; Am. Ord. 1310, passed 3-17-2014)