§ 2-201. Maintenance of historic properties.

Ordinary maintenance exclusion. Nothing in the section shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior elements of any building or structure described in section 2-194.

Definition of ordinary maintenance. Any work, for which a building permit is not required by law, where the purpose and effect of such work is to correct any deterioration or decay of or damage to a structure or any part thereof and to restore the same, as nearly as may be practicable, to its condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay or damage.

Minimum maintenance requirement. All buildings and structures designated by city ordinance as "H" - Historic shall be preserved against decay and deterioration and free from certain structural defects in the following manner, by the owner thereof or such other person or persons who may have the legal custody and control thereof shall repair such building if it is found to have any of the following defects:

(1)

The deterioration of exterior walls or other vertical supports;

(2)

The deterioration of roofs or other horizontal members;

(3)

The deterioration of external chimneys;

(4)

The deterioration or crumbling of plasters or mortar;

(5)

The deterioration or ineffective waterproofing of exterior walls, roofs, and foundations, including broken windows or doors;

(6)

The peeling of paint, rotting, holes, and other forms of decay;

(7)

The lack of maintenance of surrounding environment, e.g., fences, gates, sidewalks, steps, signs, accessory structures, and landscaping;

(8)

The deterioration of any feature so as to create or permit the creation of any hazardous or unsafe condition or conditions.

If minimum maintenance is not being maintained, the owner of the property or other person having legal custody thereof shall be notified by an inspector from the codes department. The notice shall be by certified mail or first class mail and shall specify each item in the property or landmark that fails to meet minimum maintenance requirements. The owner or other person having legal custody of the property shall be given a due date with a reasonable amount of time to comply with the minimum maintenance requirements. The codes and planning director or his designated building inspector, may extend the due date for good cause. If after the original time period or any extension granted by the building inspector the owner or person having legal custody of the property should fail to meet the minimum maintenance requirements, the owner or person having legal custody of the property shall be in violation of this section and punished in accordance with section 2-206.

(Ord. No. 11857, § XI, 2-23-2009)