§ 150.039  ENFORCEMENT.
   (A)   If the owner of a building found to be deteriorated fails to comply with an order to repair, or improve the building, unless an appeal is taken from such order in accordance with §§ 150.070 and 150.071, the Inspector may:
      (1)   Secure the issuance of a warrant charging such owner with a violation of the standards of fitness established by this Code;
      (2)   Cause such building to be repaired, altered or improved, and pending such repairs, alterations or improvements, may order such building vacated and closed; and
      (3)   Cause to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed, a placard with the following words: “This building is unfit for human habitation; the use or occupation of this building for human habitation is prohibited and unlawful.”
   (B)   If the owner of a building found to be dilapidated fails to comply with an order to vacate and close, or fails to remove or demolish the building, unless an appeal is taken from such order in accordance with §§ 150.070 and 150.071, the Inspector may:
      (1)   Secure the issuance of a warrant charging such owner with violation of the standards of fitness established by this Code;
      (2)   Cause such building to be vacated and closed and removed or demolished; and
      (3)   Cause to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed a placard with the following words: “This building is unfit for human habitation the use or occupation of this building for human habitation is prohibited and unlawful.”
   (C)   The Inspector shall not cause the repair, alteration, improvement or demolition and removal of any building or perform any other duties set forth in divisions (A) and (B) above, until the Board of Commissioners shall have by ordinance ordered the Inspector to proceed to effectuate the purpose of this Code with respect to the particular property or properties which the Inspector shall have found to be unfit for human habitation or dangerous and which property or properties shall be described in the ordinance. Such ordinances shall be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of the county and shall be indexed in the name of the property owner in the grantor index.
   (D)   The amount of the cost of such repairs, alterations or improvements or vacating and closing, or demolition and removal by the Inspector shall be a lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred; which lien shall be filed, have the same priority and be collected as provided by G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 10. If the building is demolished and removed by the Inspector, he or she shall sell the materials of such building and shall credit the proceeds of such sale against the cost of the demolition and removal and any balance remaining shall be deposited in the Superior Court by the Inspector, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such court, and shall be disbursed by such court to the person found to be entitled thereto by final decree of such court (in a special proceeding brought before the Clerk of Superior Court for said purpose).
(Ord. passed 11-1-1988)