Southfield — Ch. 105 Registration and Inspection of Multiple Family Residential Dwellings § 8.706

(1) The code official shall require the property owner or manager of the premises regulated by this chapter to do one (1) or more of the following:
(a) Notify the tenant(s) of the code official's request to inspect the selected dwelling units, and make a good faith effort to obtain the tenant's consent for the inspection. If the property owner or manager obtains the tenant's consent, the property owner or manager shall arrange with the department for an inspection. For multiple tenants within a dwelling unit notifying at least one (1) of the tenants and requesting and obtaining consent of at least one (1) of the tenants satisfies the notice and consent requirements hereof.
(b) Provide the code official with access to the common areas, and to each dwelling unit scheduled to be inspected if:
i) The lease authorizes an enforcing agency inspector to enter the dwelling unit for inspection;
ii) The tenant has consented to an inspection (if the tenant is not present during the inspection, the code official may rely on the property owner's or manager's representation to the code official that the tenant has consented to the inspection of the dwelling unit);
iii) The dwelling unit to be inspected is vacant; or
iv) The code official serves an administrative warrant ordering the owner to provide access.
(2) A tenant within a multiple family residential dwelling shall provide access to his/her dwelling unit to the code official if:
i) The lease authorizes an enforcing agency inspector to enter the dwelling unit for inspection;
ii) The tenant has made a complaint to the department;
iii) The tenant gives consent; or
iv) The code official serves an administrative warrant ordering the tenant to provide access.
(3) In a non-emergency situation, where the owner or tenant demands a warrant for inspection of the premises or a dwelling unit, the city shall obtain an administrative warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction. The city shall prepare the warrant, stating the address or identification number of the structure to be inspected, the nature of the inspection, and the reasons for the inspection. It shall be appropriate and sufficient to set forth the basis of the inspection (e.g. complaint, recurrent violation(s), periodic random basis, etc.) established in section 8.705 , in other applicable acts or in rules or regulations. The warrant shall also state that it is issued pursuant to this chapter, and that it is for the purposes set forth in this chapter and other acts which require that inspections be conducted.
(4) The code official shall prepare and maintain a list of inspection guidelines to be used in making inspections relative to the enforcement of this chapter. The inspection guidelines shall be based on this chapter and applicable code requirements. A copy of the inspection guidelines shall be available to all property owners, managers, and tenants prior to a scheduled inspection upon request therefor. The inspection guidelines shall not, in any way, limit the scope of provisions contained in applicable codes or enforcement rights of the city, and are provided solely as a courtesy.
(5) If, upon inspection of the common areas and/or any dwelling unit within the premises, the code official finds any violation(s) of the applicable codes, the property owner and the manager shall be sent a written notice of the violation(s) noted during the inspection. The property owner shall correct such violation(s) within thirty (30) days or such other time period stated within the written notice. More time may be granted by the code official upon request in those situations in which the property owner or manager can demonstrate a justifiable need and the additional time, if granted, will not result in conditions deteriorating further. Less time may also be specified in the notice for correction of code violation(s) in situations involving life or health threatening circumstances. In situations where the violation(s) revealed within the course of an inspection reflect a hazard to health and safety, those premises or units which have been or are occupied for dwelling purposes may be ordered vacated by the code official until reinspection and proof of elimination of the condition(s) constituting the hazard to health and safety. If any violation remains uncorrected following the allotted repair time as set forth in the notice, the code official shall issue a violation citation as set forth in section 8.708 hereof.
(6) Upon an inspection or reinspection(s) revealing that the premises and all dwelling units selected for inspection are in compliance with applicable codes, the department shall issue a certificate of compliance. The certificate of compliance shall be valid for one (1) year except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The certificate of compliance is expressly issued conditioned upon the premises, and all dwelling units situated therein, remaining in a safe, healthful and fit condition for occupancy. If a subsequent inspection(s) reveals condition(s) that reflect a hazard to health and safety, the certificate of compliance shall be immediately suspended as to the affected area(s) and/or dwelling unit(s), and those premises which have been or are occupied for dwelling purposes may be ordered vacated by the code official until reinspection and proof of elimination of the condition(s) constituting the hazard to health and safety. Upon reinspection and proof of compliance with applicable codes, a certificate of compliance will be reissued.