Building Standards Commission
The Planning and Zoning Commission has been designated as the building standards commission to hear cases concerning alleged violations of the City's housing and dangerous buildings regulations. Shall have the powers and duties and comply with the procedures established by City Code Sec. 10-161.
Substandard Structures
(a) The following buildings are in violation of the city's building standards and, in such condition, are unfit for human occupation or are considered dangerous and in violation of this article:
(1) All buildings that violate the International Building Code, International Residential Code, or any other International Code or building standards adopted by the city as set forth in section 10-22 to the extent that such building is in a condition that is unsafe, unsanitary, or dangerous;
(2) All buildings, dwellings, or dwelling units in which the interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls more than 50 percent outside of the middle width of its base;
(3) All buildings, dwellings, or dwelling units in which, exclusive of the foundation, show 33 percent or more, of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members, or 50 percent of damage or deterioration of the non-supporting enclosing or outside walls or covering;
(4) Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the roof or floor or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose;
(5) All buildings, dwellings, or dwelling units which have been damaged by fire, wind, or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety or the general health and welfare of the occupants thereof or the citizens of the city;
(6) All buildings, dwellings, or dwelling units which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary or which so utterly fail to provide the essentials to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein.
(7) Those having height, air and sanitation facilities which are inadequate to protect the health, safety, or general welfare of human beings who live or may live therein.
(8) Those having inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic or those having insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of communication.
(9) Those which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fail and injure members of the public or property.
(10) Those which because of their condition are a public nuisance, unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare.
(b) The building standards commission is authorized to determine whether any of the above conditions or defects exist- and to determine what action, if any, is appropriate if such conditions or defects are found to exist. The building standards commission is authorized to take such actions, as authorized by this ordinance or statute. Specifically, the building standards commission is authorized: to order the vacation of a building; the relocation of its occupants; the demolition of the building; or the repair or removal of a building.
(c) The employees of the fire, police, health or other administrative departments, finding the same, shall make a report in writing to the building inspector of all buildings or structures which are, may be, or are suspected to "substandard buildings" within the terms of this article.
