1737.03 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Inspection Notice. The Health Commissioner shall cause inspection of the buildings or other structures to determine evidence of rat infestation and the existence of new breaks or leaks in the rat-stoppage. When any evidence is found indicating the presence of rats or openings through which rats may enter such buildings or structures, he shall serve the owner, agent or occupant of such building or structure with written notice to abate the conditions found.
(b) Right of Entry. No person shall refuse entry to the Health Commissioner or his authorized representatives, or otherwise willfully hinder or thwart the Health Commissioner or his authorized representatives in the exercise of any authority, or performance of any duty under this chapter.
(c) Maintenance. The owner, agent or occupant in charge of all rat-stopped buildings or structures shall maintain them in a rat-stopped condition and repair all breaks or leaks that may occur in the rat-stoppage.
(d) Unlawful to Remove Rat-Stoppage. No owner, occupant, contractor, public utility company, plumber or any other person shall remove the rat-stoppage from any building or structure for any purpose and fail to restore the same in satisfactory condition, or shall make any new openings that are not closed or sealed against the entrance of rats.
(e) Structural Changes. Whenever conditions of the building or structure provide such extensive harborage for rats that the Health Commissioner deems it necessary to eliminate such harborage, he may require the owner in charge of any such building or structure to install suitable cement floors in basements, or shall require such owner to correct such rat harborage as may be necessary in order to facilitate the eradication of rats.
(f) Dumping Prohibited. No person shall place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate any garbage or refuse in or around any building, structure or premises so that the same shall afford food or harborage for rats, or shall dump or place on any premises, land or waterway any dead animals or waste vegetable or animal matter of any kind.
(g) Accumulations of Materials or Junk. No person shall accumulate or permit the accumulation on any open lot or other premises, of any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones, scrap metal, motor vehicle bodies or parts, or similar materials, rubbish or any articles of junk which provide rat-harborage, unless the same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than eighteen inches above the ground, evenly piled or stacked.
(h) Receptacles. Every person occupying or having charge of or owning any building or structure shall provide receptacles for the storage of garbage and refuse. The receptacles shall be of such construction and provided with covers so that they are rat-proof, and further such persons shall have the contents of the receptacles removed from the premises whenever such receptacles are full. No person occupying, owning or having charge of any premises shall store garbage or refuse in any place other than in receptacles as defined herein.
(i) Feeding of Birds, Animals or Domesticated Fowl. No person shall place food in the open for the feeding of any birds, animals or domesticated fowl except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground. After such feeding, such food shall not be allowed to remain where it is accessible to rats. Food for birds, animals and domesticated fowl shall be stored in such a manner as to not be accessible to rats.
(j) Rodent Harborage Among Plants. No owner or occupant shall permit conditions whereby grasses, weeds or other plants may provide a rodent harborage on his property.
(k) Open Burning of Solid Wastes. No person shall burn solid wastes in an open area or open container except as permitted under Chapter 1511 of the Fire Prevention Code. Such wastes shall be placed in covered receptacles and shall be hauled away and disposed of in a satisfactory manner. (Ord. 93067. Passed 10-27-76.)