A.
Buildings and parts thereof shall be maintained so
as to be capable of sustaining safely their own weight and the loads
to which they may be subject.
B.
Buildings shall be maintained so that loads are transmitted
to the soil without undue differential settlement, unsafe deformation
or movement of the building or of any structural parts.
C.
Buildings shall be maintained so that protection is
provided for all structural members which may become structurally
unsound if left unprotected. Causes of such deterioration include,
among others, the action of freezing and thawing, dampness, corrosion,
wetting and drying and termites and other destructive insects.
D.
Buildings built in soil which is water-bearing at
any season of the year shall be maintained so that grounds- and surface
water will not penetrate into habitable spaces.
B.
Stairs, porches and railings.
(1)
The stairs, porches and railings affixed to the exterior
of every structure shall be kept in good repair and structurally sound.
Railings shall be provided for stairs and balconies and, where necessary,
for porches and accessible roofs.
(2)
Stairs and porches shall be considered to be in good
repair and structurally sound when found to be free of holes and cracks
and capable of supporting imposed loads. Railings shall be designed
to withstand both vertical and horizontal forces in accordance with
generally accepted standards.
C.
Weather- and watertight.
(1)
Every structure shall be so maintained that it will
be weather- and watertight.
(2)
Exterior walls, roofs and all openings around doors,
windows, chimneys and all other parts of the structure shall be so
maintained as to keep water from entering the structure and to prevent
heat loss. Damaged materials must be repaired or replaced. All parts
of the structure that show evidence of dry rot or other deterioration
shall be repaired or replaced and refinished. Such replacement shall
be in conformity with the remainder of the structure.
(3)
Windows, doors and hatchways. Every window, exterior
door and basement hatchway shall be substantially tight and shall
be kept in sound condition and repair.
(4)
Windows to be glazed. Every window sash shall be fully
supplied with glass window panes, or an approved substitute, which
are without open cracks or holes.
(5)
Windows to be tight. Every window sash shall be free
of rot and structural defects and shall fit reasonably right within
its frame.
(6)
Windows to be openable. Every window, other than a
fixed window, shall be capable of being opened and shall be held in
position by window hardware.
(7)
Door hardware. Every exterior door, door hinge and
door latch shall be maintained in good condition.
(8)
Doors to fit in frame. Every exterior door, when closed,
shall fit reasonably well within its frame.
(9)
Window and door frames to fit in wall. Every window,
door and frame shall be constructed and maintained in such relation
to the adjacent wall construction so as to exclude rain and to substantially
exclude wind from entering the dwelling or multifamily dwelling.
D.
Protective coating for wood surfaces.
(1)
All exterior wood surfaces of a structure not inherently
resistant to deterioration by the natural elements shall be treated
with a protective coating or preservative to prevent structural deterioration.
(2)
Exterior wood surfaces shall be adequately protected
against deterioration through the application of approved protective
coatings.
(3)
Lead-base paint prohibition. In accordance with the
Code of Federal Regulations, the use of lead-base paint is prohibited
in residential structures on applicable surfaces, meaning all interior
surfaces and those exterior surfaces, such as stairs, decks, porches,
railings, windows and doors, which are readily accessible to children.
(4)
All exterior surfaces shall be free of all loose,
peeling, and/or blistered protective coatings.
[Added 3-19-2007]
F.
Graffiti.
[Added 3-23-2009]
(1)
It
shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore any surface marred
by graffiti to a clean state of maintenance and repair within a reasonable
time.
(2)
"Graffiti"
is defined as any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, painting
or other defacement that is written, marked, etched, scratched, sprayed,
drawn, painted or engraved on or otherwise affixed to any surface
of public or private property by a device capable of leaving a visible
mark.
A.
Free from dampness.
(1)
Cellars, basements and crawl spaces in every structure
shall be reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions conducive
to decay or deterioration of the structure.
(2)
Ventilation shall be provided in every basement, cellar
and crawl space by means of windows, openings or vents or mechanical
vents.
B.
Structural members. Supporting structural members
of every structure shall be structurally sound. Supporting structural
members shall be considered to be structurally sound if such members
are capable of bearing imposed loads safely and if there is no evidence
of deterioration.
C.
Chimneys, flues and vents.
(1)
Chimneys and all flue and vent attachments thereto
and all other flues and vents of every structure shall be structurally
sound and free from defects to assure the performance of the function
for which they were designed and are used.
(2)
Chimneys, flues, gas vents or other draft-producing
equipment shall provide sufficient draft to develop the rated output
of the connected equipment. Chimneys, flue linings, where required,
flues and gas vents and their supports shall be structurally safe,
durable, smoketight and capable of withstanding the action of the
flue gases.
D.
Stairs and railings.
(1)
Interior stairs of every structure used for human
habitation shall be structurally sound and free from defects. Railings
shall be provided for stairs, balconies, landings and stairwells.
(2)
Treads or risers that evidence excessive wear, as
defined by the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code,
or are broken, warped or loose shall be repaired. Stairs shall be
securely fastened to supporting structural members and be capable
of supporting normally imposed loads. Properly balustraded railings
capable of bearing normally imposed loads shall be placed on the open
portions of stairs, balconies, landings and stairwells.
E.
Floors, walls and ceilings.
(1)
Floors, walls and ceilings of every structure shall
be structurally sound and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(2)
Floors shall be considered to be structurally sound
where capable of safely bearing imposed loads. Walls and ceilings
shall be considered to be structurally sound and in good repair when
clean and free from breaks, loose plaster and similar conditions.
(3)
Toilet rooms and bathroom floors shall be maintained
so as to prevent leakage of water through the floor under normal conditions
of use and floor washing and resultant deterioration or defects in
structural members and ceilings below.
(4)
All interior flooring shall be maintained free of
gaps between floorboards and free of broken and loose flooring, warped
boards, splintered flooring and rotted boards.
