(A) General. All structures and premises shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation, and where insects or rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by acceptable processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
(B) Owner. The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination within the structure prior to renting, leasing, assigning, or selling structure.
(C) Tenant-occupant. The tenant-occupant of any structure shall be responsible for the continued insect and rodent-resistant condition of the structure and if the tenant occupant fails to maintain the insect and rodent-resistant condition, the cost of additional extermination shall be the responsibility of the tenant-occupant.
(D) Single-family dwelling.
(1) The occupant shall be responsible for extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests in the structure and on the premises where:
(a) The first observable signs of infestation appear more than 30 days after the occupant takes possession of the premises; or,
(b) The first observable signs of infestation appear within 30 days after the occupant takes possession of the premises, and the occupant fails to notify the owner of infestation within the 30-day period; or
(c) The owner, after being notified pursuant to division (b) above, has undertaken extermination which eliminated infestation within 45 days after the extermination began; or
(d) Whenever the Code Official determines that infestation was caused by the occupant's violation of housekeeping provisions of the Rental Housing Code, regardless of when the infestation occurs or is reported to the owner.
(2) The owner shall be responsible for extermination where:
(a) The occupant notifies the owner of the infestation within 30 days of the occupant's occupancy; or
(b) After the owner has been notified pursuant to division (a) above, infestation still exists 45 days after extermination was commenced; except that if the owner presents the Housing Code Office with proof that a satisfactory effort was made to control the infestation, then the occupant shall be responsible for further extermination if continued infestation is attributable to the occupant.
(E) Multiple occupancy. Every owner, agent or operator of a structure containing two or more rental units shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents or other pests in the shared or public areas of the structure and premises. The owner shall be responsible for extermination within each rental unit, except that where an occupant's poor housekeeping has caused infestation, the occupant shall be responsible for extermination within the occupant's rental unit.
(F) Continued rodent infestation. Continuing or repeated incidents of rodent infestation shall require the installation of rat and vermin resistant walls. The rat and vermin resistant walls shall be installed in accordance with building codes.
(Ord. 27-92, passed 9-14-92)