§ 231-8. Unsafe structures and equipment.

A. 

General. When a structure or equipment is found by the Housing Officer to be unsafe or when a structure is found unfit for human occupancy or is found unlawful, such structure may be condemned pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(1) 

Unsafe structures. An unsafe structure is one that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure by not providing minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that partial or complete collapse is possible.

(2) 

Unsafe equipment. Unsafe equipment includes any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid containers or other equipment on the premises or within the structure which is in such disrepair or condition that such equipment is a hazard to life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the premises or structure.

(3) 

Structure unfit for human occupancy. A structure is unfit for human occupancy whenever the Housing Officer finds that such structure is unsafe, unlawful or, because of the degree to which the structure is in disrepair or lacks maintenance, is unsanitary, vermin- or rat-infested, contains filth and contamination, or lacks ventilation, illumination, sanitary or heating facilities or other essential equipment required by this chapter, or because the location of the structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants of the structure or to the public.

(4) 

Unlawful structure. An unlawful structure is one found in whole or in part to be occupied by more persons than permitted under this chapter or that was erected, altered or occupied contrary to law.

B. 

Closing of vacant structures. If the structure is vacant and unfit for human habitation and occupancy and is not in danger of structural collapse, the Housing Officer is authorized to post a notice of condemnation on the premises and order all external areas closed and windows secured so as not to be an attractive nuisance. Upon failure of the owner to close the premises within the time specified in the order, the Housing Officer shall cause the premises to be closed and secured through any available public agency or by contract or arrangement by private persons, and the cost thereof shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate and may be collected by any other legal remedy.

C. 

Notice. Whenever the Housing Officer has condemned a structure or equipment under the provisions of this section, notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by such notice and served on the owner or the person or persons responsible for the structure or equipment in accordance with § 231-33. If the notice pertains to equipment, it shall also be placed on the condemned equipment. The notice shall be in the form prescribed in this chapter.

D. 

Placarding.

(1) 

Upon failure of the owner or person responsible to comply with the notice provisions within the time given, the Housing Officer shall post on the premises or on defective equipment a placard bearing the word "condemned" and a statement of the penalties provided for occupying the premises, operating the equipment or removing the placard.

(2) 

Placard removal. The Housing Officer shall remove the condemnation placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the condemnation and placarding action were based have been eliminated. Any person who defaces or removes a condemnation placard without the approval of the Housing Officer shall be subject to the penalties provided by this chapter.

E. 

Prohibited occupancy. Any occupied structure condemned and placarded by the Housing Officer shall be vacated as ordered by the Housing Officer. Any person who shall occupy placarded premises or shall operate placarded equipment and any owner or any person responsible for the premises who shall let anyone occupy placarded premises or operate placarded equipment shall be liable for the penalties provided by this chapter.