§ 15.24.270. General.

A.

All vacant structures, premises and vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition, to prevent blighted conditions or an adverse impact on public health, or safety.

B.

No structure caused to be vacant by virtue of noncompliance with the provisions of this Code shall be used again for human habitation without first obtaining a certificate of occupancy from the housing official. No noncomplying structure may be left vacant longer than six months. The city may at that time exercise condemnation and/or demolition. The cost or expense shall be assessed as a lien on the property and shall be entered on the tax records kept by the Director of Finance and shall be collectible as are taxes.

C.

Each exterior door, window and opening of any vacant building shall be firmly secured and locked. Should a structure become accessible and/or a nuisance by virtue of having windows or doors repeatedly left opened and/or unlocked, they shall be firmly secured by covering the opening with plywood or other approved material. Approved material used to cover unsecured openings shall fit the openings squarely, and shall be surface coated to match the exterior house trim. No structure shall be permitted to be boarded up for any period of time in excess of six months unless fully justified by the owner in writing to the housing official stating why and for what period of time the structure should be permitted to remain boarded up. Any structure condemned in accordance with Section 15.24.280, which has been boarded up for a period of time exceeding six months, and has not been justified by the owner in writing to the housing official, may be issued a one hundred dollar ($100.00) citation for the first day of noncompliance and a two hundred dollar ($200.00) citation for each day thereafter that the violation continues.

(Ord. 2017 § 2 (part), 2006: Ord. 1992 (part), 2006: Ord. 1974 (part), 2005; Ord. 1959 (part), 2005: Ord. 1795 (part), 2001; Ord. 1665 Exh. A (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 2360, 11-9-2015; Ord. No. 2455, 10-9-2017 )