Princeville — Title 15 Ch. 15.24 Property Maintenance and Occupancy Code § 15.24.090

A. Structure Unfit for Human Habitation. When a building, structure or dwelling, or part thereof is found by the code enforcement officer to be unsafe, unlawful or because of the degree in which it lacks maintenance, it is in disrepair, unsanitary, vermin or rat infested, contains filth and contamination, or lacks ventilation, illumination, sanitary facilities, heating facilities or other essential equipment required by this code, or because of its location constitutes a hazard to its occupants or to the public, the building, structure or dwelling, or part thereof, may be condemned pursuant to the provisions of this code and may be placarded and vacated. Any such condemned building, structure or dwelling shall not be re-occupied without the approval of the code enforcement officer. Unsafe equipment shall be placarded and placed out of service, and repaired or replaced within five (5) business days.
B. Unsafe Structure. Any building, structure or dwelling shall be designated as unfit for human habitation when any aforesaid and following defects or conditions are found and when in the judgment of the code enforcement officer such defects create a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of the public.
C. Unsafe Equipment. Unsafe equipment includes any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid container or other equipment on the premises or within the building, structure or dwelling, which is in such disrepair or condition that it is found to be a hazard to life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the premises and/or building, structure or dwelling. Unsafe equipment may contribute to the finding that the building, structure or dwelling is unsafe or unfit for human habitation or use until repaired.
D. Closing of Vacant Structure. If a building, structure or dwelling, or part thereof, is vacant and designated unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, and is not in danger of structural collapse, the code enforcement officer may post a placard of condemnation on the premises and order the building, structure or dwelling closed up so as to not be an attractive nuisance to children. Upon failure of the owner to close up the building, structure or dwelling within the time specified in the order, the code enforcement officer shall cause the building, structure or dwelling to be closed 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 building, structure or dwelling is located and a lien shall be placed upon such real estate for such cost.
E. Vacation of Premises--Closing of Occupied Structures.
1. If a building, structure or dwelling, or part thereof, is unfit for human habitation, and is occupied, the code enforcement officer shall post the building, structure or dwelling, as unfit for habitation and use and shall order the building, structure or dwelling vacated within a reasonable period of time; such period of time shall not be less than one (1), nor more than three (3) days.
2. No building, structure or dwelling which has been designated as unfit for human habitation, posted as such and vacated, shall be used again for human habitation until written approval is secured from the code enforcement officer and the notice is removed.
F. Unfit Designation Removed. The code enforcement officer shall remove the designation of unfit for human habitation and the notice shall be removed when the defect or condition upon which such designation and posting was based has been corrected or eliminated, and such building, structure or dwelling is deemed by the code enforcement officer to be safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation.
G. Removal of Notice of Unfit Structure. No person shall deface or remove the notice from any building, structure or dwelling which has been designated as unfit for human habitation and has been posted as such, other than the code enforcement officer.
H. Unfit Structure--Code Compliance. Any building, structure or dwelling having been designated as unfit for human habitation or having been left vacant or abandoned shall be returned to full code compliance as per this code, the applicable zoning ordinance and other applicable Village codes or ordinances before human habitation can resume.
I. Hearing-Unfit Structure. Any person affected by any decision of the code enforcement officer, or by any designation or posting of a building, structure or dwelling as unfit for human habitation, may be granted a hearing on the matter before the code enforcement officer or Village Board under the procedures set forth herein.