St. Clair Shores — Ch. 8 Art. VII Inspection of Residential Rental Properties § 8-301

In order to preserve the value of existing construction, to safeguard the public, to prevent blight, and to encourage nonoccupant owners to maintain their residential property within the City, it is necessary to institute a program to inspect residential rental premises in the City and to continue to inspect on a periodic basis. The purpose of this article is to accomplish these goals in the least intrusive method by establishing a minimum level of habitability and an inspection timetable. Therefore, the article requires a minimum level of acceptability for occupancy of existing rental premises. However, the standards adopted are not intended to supersede the requirements of the state construction code, section 8-40, et. seq. regarding new construction and alterations or the more comprehensive regulations of the City Property Maintenance Code, article X of this chapter. In fact, where an inspection under this article reveals the need for more extensive repairs in order to protect the safety of an occupant, the regulations set forth or adopted in article X of this chapter, and section 8-40 et seq., may be enforced at the discretion of the Building Official and/or his designated representative in accordance with the terms and timetables of this article. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, situations where an existing structure is remodeled or altered or repaired due to fire or other catastrophe. Furthermore, the Building Official and/or his designated representative shall have the authority to make compliance with any regulation, including payment of additional inspection and permit fees with any regulation, including payment of additional inspection and permit fees contained in article X of this chapter, or section 8-40 , et. seq., a condition precedent to habitability as specified in this article. A permit, and payment of applicable fees, and a certificate of occupancy pursuant to these codes or another related code may also be required.