§ 17.01.005. Purpose and intent.

(a)

The purpose of this title is to:

(1)

Contain and eliminate urban blight and deterioration of real property and neighborhoods;

(2)

Prevent the development of conditions that are hazardous to public health or safety;

(3)

Assure that dangerous conditions be abated; and

(3)

Protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public as a whole, not individuals.

(b)

To achieve the purpose of this title, it is the intent of this title to:

(1)

Define the responsibility of owners, operators, and occupants of dwellings in securing city-wide compliance with minimum physical standards for real property;

(2)

Establish minimum quality standards for all residential dwellings, dwelling units, roaming houses, and rooming units; and provide for the enforcement of those minimum quality standards;

(3)

Establish a baseline for minimum design and installation standards for dwelling units that were constructed without benefit of codes; and

(4)

Establish a rental inspection program that has the authority, responsibility, and administrative mechanism to inspect (i) rental dwelling places through a regular, systemic, and area-by-area procedure and (ii) specific rental dwelling places on a complaint or emergency basis.

(c)

The provisions of this title shall apply uniformly to (i) the construction, maintenance, use, and occupancy of any new residential building or structure and (ii) the alteration, repair, equipment, use, occupancy, and maintenance of any existing residential building or structure.

(d)

An existing residential building or structure is deemed to be in compliance with the design or installation standards of this title if it is in compliance with the construction code(s), if any, in effect at the time it was originally constructed, converted, or substantially rehabilitated. An existing residential building or structure is deemed to be in compliance with the design or installation standards of this title if it were legally constructed, converted, or substantially rehabilitated without the benefit of code(s).

Exception: Any conversion or substantial rehabilitation of an existing building or structure that has an adverse effect on the integrity of its structure or structural systems is not deemed to be in compliance with the design or installation standards of this title.

(e)

Any alteration, modification, repair, or change of any residential building or structure must comply with the construction code in effect at the time an application for a permit for such alteration, modification, repair, or change is submitted and a permit issued.

(Ord. 4816 § 1, 1987).

(Ord. No. 6224, 1-26-2015).