(A) Whenever a petition is filed with the Inspector by a public authority or by at least five residents of the town charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation or whenever it appears to the Inspector on his or her own motion that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, the Inspector shall, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such dwellings a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Inspector or his or her designated agent at a place within the county in which the property is located fixed not less than ten days nor more than 30 days after the serving of the complaint.
(B) The owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint.
(C) The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Inspector.
(Prior Code, § 150.35) (Ord. passed 10-1-1984)