Colona CHAPTER 2 RENTAL HOUSING1 § 9-2-12
EMERGENCY MEASURES
Operative Text
A. Revocation Of Permit; Order To Vacate: When any dwelling unit, rooming unit, dwelling, hotel or motel, has become so damaged by fire, wind or other causes, or has become so unsafe, unhealthful or unsanitary, that in the opinion of the Building Inspector, life or health is immediately endangered by the occupation of the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, hotel or motel, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke without notice, any occupancy permits for such dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, hotels or motels, and to order and require the occupants to vacate the same forthwith and to order the owner or agent to proceed immediately with the corrective work and repairs required to make the dwelling, dwelling units, rooming unit, hotel or motel temporarily safe and fit for human habitation, whether or not a notice of violation has been given as described in this Chapter, and whether or not legal procedures described by ordinances of the City have been instituted. B. Failure To Comply: It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with any emergency order of the Building Inspector. C. Declaration Of Emergency: Whenever the Building Inspector finds that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the health and safety of the residents or of the public, the Building Inspector may issue an order citing the existence of an emergency and requiring immediate action to be taken as deemed necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Chapter, such order shall take effect immediately. (1997 Code)
Colona § 9-2-12 establishes emergency powers that allow the Building Inspector to act swiftly when a dwelling, rooming unit, hotel, or motel poses an immediate threat to life or health due to fire, wind, or other damage. Under this provision, the Building Inspector may revoke occupancy permits and order occupants to vacate without prior notice, and may simultaneously require owners or agents to begin corrective repairs at once. Emergency orders issued under this section take effect immediately, bypassing the standard notice and legal procedures otherwise described in the Chapter, and failure to comply with any such order is unlawful.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Colona § 9-2-12, property owners and agents are expected to respond immediately when the Building Inspector issues an emergency order, including beginning corrective work and repairs without delay. Compliant operators generally maintain properties in a condition that avoids the kind of severe damage or unsafe conditions that trigger emergency action, and they keep lines of communication open with the Building Inspector's office. Because emergency orders under this section take effect without prior notice and outside the normal violation process, operators who receive such an order are generally expected to act on it at once rather than waiting for further procedural steps.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Colona § 9-2-12 gives tenants a degree of protection when their dwelling becomes immediately dangerous — the Building Inspector has authority to order a vacate and require the owner to make emergency repairs, even without prior notice or formal legal proceedings. If you are asked to vacate under an emergency order issued pursuant to this provision, that order carries immediate legal force and the owner is simultaneously required to address the underlying hazard. Tenants who believe emergency conditions exist in their unit, or who have questions about their rights following an emergency order, may contact the Colona Building Inspector's office or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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