Sec. 22-567. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Applicable health laws means laws promulgated for the purpose of promoting health, life and public welfare by standards, regulations or ordinances duly adopted by the state or an agency thereof or the city.
Approved, as to materials installed and maintained and types of construction, means the approval by the chief building official as the result of investigation and tests conducted by him or her or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical or scientific organizations.
Basement means that portion of the building between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is greater than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.
Building means any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind.
Building code means the International Residential Code (I.R.C.) published by the International Code Council as adopted by the City in section 22-131.
Deteriorated means not reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodent resistant, including but not limited to rusting, warping, splitting and buckling, or any portion of a dwelling or mechanical device which does not function as designed and intended.
Dwelling means any building or portion thereof which provides shelter for human habitation or residential purposes.
Dwelling unit means one or more habitable rooms which are occupied by one family with facilities for living and sleeping purposes.
Garbage means any and all rejected or waste household food, offal, swill, kitchen refuse, and every refuse accumulation of animal, fruit or vegetable matter, liquid or otherwise, that attends the preparation, use, cooking, and dealing in or storing of food or meat, fish, fowl, fruit or vegetables.
Garden level means that portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is partly below and partly above grade, but so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to the ceiling.
Habitable room means any room meeting the requirements of this article for living, sleeping, eating or cooking or combination thereof, but not including bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, pantries, service rooms, connecting corridors, laundries, unfinished attics, foyers, storage spaces, utility rooms and similar spaces.
Health officer means a person or his or her duly authorized representative appointed to serve the city in such capacity by the city manager.
Hot water means water at a temperature of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Infestation means the presence within or around a dwelling of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests of such kind or in such numbers as to cause a hazard to health.
Kitchen means a room or a portion thereof used or designed to be used for the preparation of food.
Nuisance means as follows:
(1) Any public nuisance known at common law or in equity jurisprudence.
(2) Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to children, whether in a building, on the premises surrounding a building or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes any abandoned wells, shafts, basements or excavations; abandoned refrigerators and abandoned or junked motor vehicles; any structurally unsound fences or structures; or any lumber, trash, fences, debris or vegetation which may prove a hazard for minors.
(3) Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to health, as determined in accordance with applicable health laws.
(4) Occupancy in excess of the requirements of this article.
(5) Ventilation, heating or illumination insufficient to meet the requirements of this article or applicable health laws.
(6) Sewer or plumbing facilities insufficient to meet the requirements of this article or applicable health laws.
(7) Uncleanliness in violation of applicable health laws.
(8) Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings as provided by applicable health laws.
Occupant includes any person living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
Owner includes any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others:
(1) Has a legal or equitable interest in a dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof;
(2) Acts as the agent of a person having a legal or equitable interest in a dwelling or dwelling unit thereof; or
(3) Is the general representative or fiduciary of an estate through which a legal or equitable interest in a dwelling unit is administered.
Rubbish means all accumulations of waste, refuse and rejected animal, mineral or vegetable matter, except garbage and manure.
Running water means water that comes into a structure through pipes.
Story means that portion of a building, other than a basement as defined in the building code adopted in section 22-131, included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the next floor above it, then the space between the surface of the floor and ceiling next above it.
Substandard buildings or premises means all buildings or portions thereof on the premises on which they are located which do not conform to the standards established by this article.
Trash includes ashes, wastepaper, cans, bottles, broken china, sawdust, leaves, grass cuttings, shrubbery and tree trimmings, shavings, packing material, but not including garbage, manure or debris.
Used includes the term "designed" or "intended to be used."
Window means a glazed opening, including glazed doors which open onto a yard, court or a recess from a court, open and unobstructed to the sky. (Ord. No. 2023-15, § 1, 6-12-2023; Ord. No. 2006-78, § 1(Exh. A), 1-8-2007)
Cross reference: Definitions generally, § 1-2.