SECTION 201 – GENERAL
201.1 Scope. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purposes of this code, have the meanings shown in this chapter.
201.2 Interchangeability. Words stated in the present tense include the future; words stated in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the singular number includes the plural and the plural, the singular.
201.3 Terms not defined. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies.
201.4 Parts. Whenever the words “dwelling unit,” “dwelling,” “premises,” “building,” “rooming house,” “rooming unit,” “housekeeping unit” or “story” are stated in this code, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words “or any part thereof.”
SECTION 202 – GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Abandoned vehicle. Any vehicle that has been left unattended or neglected by the title owner or which outwardly appears to have no apparent owner or person in possession, or which has no current registration plate or valid inspection sticker attached. This shall include but not be limited to vehicles that are dismantled or partially dismantled (i.e., rendered inoperable because a part or parts has or have been removed) or inoperable (i.e., does not have the required number of wheels or tires, does not have one or more of its doors or windows, does not have an engine or does not have a battery, or lacks any part which is necessary to self-propel it.)
Anchored. Secured in a manner that provides positive connection.
Approved. Acceptable to the code official.
Basement. That portion of a building that is partly or completely below grade.
Bathroom. A room containing plumbing fixtures including a bathtub or shower.
Bedroom. Any room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes in either a dwelling or sleeping unit.
Code Official. The official who is charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or any duly authorized representative.
Condemn. To adjudge unfit for occupancy.
Cost of Such Demolition or Emergency Repairs. The costs shall include the actual costs of the demolition or repair of the structure less revenues obtained if salvage was conducted prior to demolition or repair. Costs shall include, but not be limited to, expenses incurred or necessitated related to demolition or emergency repairs, such as asbestos survey and abatement if necessary; costs of inspectors, testing agencies or experts retained relative to the demolition or emergency repairs; costs of testing; surveys for other materials that are controlled or regulated from being dumped in a landfill; title searches; mailing(s); postings; recording; and attorney fees expended for recovering of the cost of emergency repairs or to obtain or enforce an order of demolition made by a code official, the governing body or board of appeals.
Detached. When a structural element is physically disconnected from another and that connection is necessary to provide a positive connection.
Deterioration. To weaken, disintegrate, corrode, rust or decay and lose effectiveness.
Dwelling Unit. A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
Easement. That portion of land or property reserved for present or future use by a person or agency other than the legal fee owner(s) of the property. The easement shall be permitted to be for use under, on or above said lot or lots.
Equipment Support. Those structural members or assemblies of members or manufactured elements, including braces, frames, lugs, snuggers, hangers or saddles, that transmit gravity load, lateral load and operating load between the equipment and the structure.
Exterior Property. The open space on the premises and on adjoining property under the control of owners or operators of such premises.
Garbage. The waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food including, but not limited to, animal, vegetable, fruit and grain waste; and other refuse from a kitchen or household, such as food or product packaging.
Guard. A building component or a system of building components located at or near the open sides of elevated walking surfaces that minimizes the possibility of a fall from the walking surface to a lower level.
Habitable Space. Space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.
Historic Building. Any building or structure that is one or more of the following:
1. Listed or certified as eligible for listing, by the State Historic Preservation Officer or the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, in the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Designated as historic under an applicable state or local law.
3. Certified as a contributing resource within a National Register or state or locally designated historic district.
Hotel. Any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator of one or more persons, not members of his or her immediate family, whether or not operated for profit or compensation, including board homes for infants, children and the aged.
Housekeeping Unit. A room or group of rooms forming a single habitable space equipped and intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating that does not contain, within such a unit, a toilet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.
Imminent Danger. A condition that could cause serious or life-threatening injury or death at any time.
Infestation. The presence, within or contiguous to, a structure or premises of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
Inoperable Motor Vehicle. A vehicle that cannot be driven upon the public streets for reason including but not limited to being unlicensed, wrecked, abandoned, in a state of disrepair, or incapable of being moved under its own power.
Labeled. Equipment, materials or products to which have been affixed a label, seal, symbol or other identifying mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, approved agency or other organization concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of the production of the above-labeled items and whose labeling indicates either that the equipment, material or product meets identified standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.
Let For Occupancy or Let. To permit, provide or offer possession or occupancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, building, premise or structure by a person who is or is not the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to a written or unwritten lease, agreement or license, or pursuant to a recorded or unrecorded agreement of contract for the sale of land.
Motel. Any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator to three or more persons, not members of his/her immediate family, whether or not operated for profit or compensation, including board homes for infants, children, and the aged.
Neglect. The lack of proper maintenance for a building or structure.
Occupancy. The purpose for which a building or portion thereof is utilized or occupied.
Occupant. Any individual living or sleeping in a building, or having possession of a space within a building.
Openable Area. That part of a window, skylight or door which is available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the outdoors.
Operator. Any person who has charge, care or control of a structure or premises that is let or offered for occupancy.
Owner. Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.
Person. An individual, corporation, partnership or any other group acting as a unit.
Pest Elimination. The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that serve as their food or water; by other approved pest elimination methods.
Plumbing. All of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents, and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer, or gas lines.
Premises. A lot, plot or parcel of land, easement or public way, including any structures thereon.
Public Way. Any street, alley or other parcel of land that: is open to the outside air; leads to a street; has been deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use; and has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm).
Rooming House. A building arranged or occupied for lodging, with or without meals, for compensation and not occupied as a one- or two-family dwelling.
Rooming Unit. Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit occupied or intended to be occupied for sleeping or living, but not for cooking purposes.
Rubbish. Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage; the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible materials, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust and other similar materials.
Sleeping Unit. A room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen facilities, but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.
Strict Liability Offense. An offense in which the prosecution in a legal proceeding is not required to prove criminal intent as a part of its case. It is enough to prove that the defendant either did an act which was prohibited, or failed to do an act which the defendant was legally required to do.
Structure. That which is built or constructed.
Tenant. A person, corporation, partnership or group, whether or not the legal owner of record, occupying a building or portion thereof as a unit.
Toilet Room. A room containing a water closet or urinal but not a bathtub or shower.
Ultimate Deformation. The deformation at which failure occurs and that shall be deemed to occur if the sustainable load reduces to 80 percent or less of the maximum strength.
Vehicle. Personal property in or on which any person or thing is or may be carried, including, but not limited to, an automobile, car, jeep, bus, truck, wagon, coach, boat, or trailer.
Ventilation. The natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned or unconditioned air to, or removing such air from, any space.
Workmanlike. Executed in a skilled manner; e.g., generally plumb, level, square, in line, undamaged and without marring adjacent work.
Yard. An open space on the same lot with a structure.