(A) General. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer is hereby authorized and directed by §33.72
of the Codified Ordinances of the City of West Carrollton and the City Manager in the interest of public health, safety, and general welfare to enforce the provisions of this code. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to render interpretations of this code and to adopt policies and procedures in order to clarify the application of its provisions. Such interpretations, policies and procedures shall be in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code. Such policies and procedures shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in this code.
(B) Inspections. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee shall make all of the required inspections, or shall accept reports of inspections by approved agencies or individuals. Reports of such inspections shall be in writing and be certified by a responsible officer of such approved agency or by the responsible individual. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual technical issues that arise, subject to the approval of the Director of Planning and Community Development.
(C) Right of entry. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee shall have the authority to enter all buildings or upon all premises at all reasonable hours to inspect or investigate or to perform the duties imposed upon the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee by this code. If such building or premises is occupied, the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee shall present credentials to the occupant and request entry. If such building or premises is unoccupied, the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner, the owner's authorized agent or other person having charge or control of the building or premises and request entry. If entry is refused, or the owner is unable to be located, the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee shall obtain a search warrant and exercise any other remedy provided by law.
(D) Warrant. When the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee has obtained a search warrant or other remedy provided by law to secure entry, an owner, the owner's authorized agent or occupant or person having charge, care or control of the building or premises shall not prevent entry to the Chief Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee for the purpose of inspection and examination pursuant to this code.
(E) Identification. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer as well as his or her designees shall carry proper identification when inspecting structures or premises in the performance of duties under this code.
(F) Notices and orders. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer as well as his or her designees shall issue all necessary notices or orders to ensure compliance with this code.
(G) Department records. The Chief Code Enforcement Officer shall keep official records of all business and activities of the division specified in the provisions of this code. Such records shall be retained in the official records as required by the City of West Carrollton records retention policy.
(H) Coordination of inspections. Whenever in the enforcement of this code or another code or ordinance, the responsibility of more than one code official or officer of the jurisdiction is involved, it shall be the duty of the code officials or officers involved to coordinate their inspections and administrative orders as fully as practicable so that the owners and occupants of the structure shall not be subjected to visits by numerous inspectors or multiple or conflicting orders. Whenever a code official or officer from any agency or department observes an apparent or actual violation of some provision of some law, ordinance or code not within the code official's or officer's authority to enforce, the code official or officer shall report the findings to the official or officer having jurisdiction.
(Ord. 3673, passed 8-11-20)