HomeMy WebLinkAbout1602 - ADMIN Ordinance - City Council - 1983/07/18ORDINANCE NO. -1-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ST. LOUIS PARK ORDINANCE CODE
RELATED TO HOUSING MAINTENANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 15-310,
15-330, 15-331, 15-332, 15-334, AND 15-342; ADDING SECTIONS 15-313,
15-314, 15-315, 15-316; AND 15-317 REPEALING SECTION 15-333 AND
RENUMBERING SECTION 15-334
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1. Section 15-310 of the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code is amended to read
as ollows:
Section 15-310. For the purpose of this Code, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases,
words and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this Part. Words used in
the singular include the plural and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine
gender include the feminine, and the feminine the masculine. Terms, words, phrases
and their derivatives used but not specifically defined in this Code shall have the
meaning defined in Chapter 4 of the Uniform Building Code, as adopted by reference
as part of the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code.
Apartment House. Apartment house is any building, or portion thereof,
which is designed, built, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or
which is occupied as the home or residence of three or more families living
independently of each other performing their own cooking services in the
apartment house.
Board of Appeals. Board of Appeals when used herein shall mean the Building
Construction Codes Advisory Commission of the City of St. Louis Park.
Building Official, Health Officer. Building Official or Health Officer shall
be defined as the Director of Inspections or those other persons designated as
Building Official or Health Authority by the City Manager.
Efficiency Living Units. Efficiency living unit is any room having cooking
facilities used for combined living, dining and sleeping purposes and meeting
the requirements of Section 503(b) Exception, of the Uniform Housing Code.
Family. The definition of family, for housing purposes, shall be found in
the St. Louis Park Zoning Ordinance, Section 14-104(19).
Hot Water. Hot water shall be water at temperature of not less than 110
degrees.
Nuisance. The following shall be defined as nuisances:
(1) Any public nuisance known as common law or in equity
jurisprudence.
(2) Any attractive nuisance which may prove detrimental to
children whether in a building, on the premises of a building,
or upon an unoccupied lot. This includes any abandoned
wells, shafts, basements or excavations; abandoned
refrigerators and motor vehicles; or any structurally unsound
fences or structures; or any lumber, trash, fences, debris,
or vegetation which may prove a hazard for inquisitive
minors.
(3) Whatever is dangerous to human life or is detrimental to
health.
(4) Overcrowding a room with occupants.
(5) Insufficient ventilation or illumination.
(6) Inadequate or unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities.
(7) Uncleanliness.
(8) Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detri-
mental to the health of human beings.
Occupant. Any person, firm, partnership, association, organization corporation,
or other who shall be in actual possession or have charge, care or control of
any dwelling or dwelling unit within the city.
Owner. Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other association who
alone, jointly, or severally with others is the fee owner of record of any
dwelling or dwelling unit within the city or any trustee, or guardian or other
representative of the fee owner or his estate.
Person. The word person shall include a corporation, firm, partnership,
association, organization and any other group acting as a unit as well as
individual. It shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver
or other representative appointed according to law. Whenever the word person
is used in any section of this code, prescribing a penalty or fine as to
partnerships or association the word shall include the officers, agents or members
thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section.
Repair. Repair shall mean to restore to a sound, acceptable state of operation,
serviceability or appearance. Repairs shall be expected to last approximately
as long as would the replacement by new items.
Replace or Replacement: Replace or replacement shall mean to remove an
existing item or portion of a system and to construct or install a new item of
a quality similar to that of the existing item when it was new. Replacement
ordinarily takes place when repair of the item is impractical.
1
1
1
Section 2. A new Section 15-313 is added to read as follows:
Section 15-313. Built -In Deficiencies Exempt. The following are built-in deficiencies
and shall be exempt from compliance with the ordinance code; provided, that such built-
in deficiencies were in compliance with a building code at the time of its construction
and/or do not pose a hazard.
(1) Ceiling Heights: Any existing habitable room with less than a 7 foot
6 inch ceiling height shall be considered a built-in deficiency which
is beyond reasonable correction.
(2) Superficial Floor Areas: Any existing habitable room of less than 90
square feet shall be considered a built-in deficiency and beyond
reasonable correction.
(3) Natural Light and Ventilation: Any existing habitable room with
window area less than 10% of the floor area shall be considered a
built-in deficiency beyond reasonable correction but in no case shall
the required natural light and ventilation be less than 5% of the floor
area.
Section 3. A new Section 15-314 is added to read as follows:
Section 15-314. Correction of Immediate Hazards. No occupancy shall be permitted of
any dwelling unit if vacant and an immediate hazard exists. If the dwelling unit is
occupied and an immediate hazard exists, immediate corrective action shall be taken
by the occupant, owner, agent of the owner or other responsible persons. The dwelling
unit may be ordered vacated if no immediate corrective action is taken and the occupant,
owner, agent of the owner or other responsible person fail to comply with any order
to correct any immediate hazard.
Immediate hazards to health and safety for human occupancy shall include but not be
limited to the following:
1. Heating systems that are unsafe due to: burned out or rusted heat exchangers
(fire box); burned out or plugged flues; no vent; connection with unsafe gas
supplies; or incapacity to adequately heat the living space.
2. Water heaters that are unsafe due to: burned out or rusted heat exchangers
(fire box); burned out, rusted, or plugged flues; no vent; connection
with unsafe gas supplies; or lack of temperature and pressure relief
valves.
3. Electrical systems that are unsafe due to: dangerous overloading;
damaged or deteriorated equipment; improperly taped or spliced wiring;
exposed uninsulated wires; distribution systems of extension cords or
other temporary methods; ungrounded systems.
4. Plumbing systems that are unsanitary due to: leaking waste systems,
fixtures and traps; lack of a water closet; lack of washing and bathing
facilities; cross connection of pure water supply with fixtures or sewage
lines; or the lack of water.
5. Structural systems, walls, chimneys, ceilings, roofs, foundations and
floor systems that will not safely carry imposed loads.
6. Refuse, garbage, human waste, decaying vermin or other dead animals,
animal waste, other materials rendering residential buildings and
structures unsanitary for human occupancy, including lack of light and
air.
7. Infestation of rats, insects, and other vermin.
Section 4. A new Section 15-315 is added to read as follows:
Section 15-315. Smoke Detectors Required. All single and two family structures shall
be provided with smoke detectors on each level of the structure where rooms are used
for sleeping purposes. Such smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance with the
State Building Code.
Section 5. A new Section 15-316 is added to read as follows:
Section 15-316. Requirements for Repair and Replacement Work. Any person doing
any repair and/or replacement work on any residential building, structure and accessory
structure covered in Section 15-302 (1) of the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code shall
complete any repair and/or replacement work in compliance with the standards contained
in the definitions of repair and/or replacement in Section 15-310.
Section 6. A new Section 15-317 is added to read as follows:
Section 15-317. Structural and Life Safety Standards. Compliance with the structural
and life safety portions of any housing maintenance inspection required under Section
15-302 shall be in accordance with the building code in effect at the time of original
construction; provided there is no significant danger to health and safety at the time
of inspection. If no building requirements were in effect at the time of construction or
the requirements cannot be determined, compliance shall be made to an extent to
eliminate significant danger to health and safety. This section is not meant to conflict
with hazardous buildings within the terms of Sections 15-400 and 15-402, built-in
deficiencies within Section 15-313 and immediate hazards within Section 15-314.
Section 7. Section 15-330 is amended to read as follows:
Section 15-330. Certificate of Housing Maintenance Compliance. When the occupancy
or ownership of any single or two family structure within the City of St. Louis Park
changes after October 1, 1972, the present occupant or owner, or any agent designated
by the present occupant or owner, shall make application for the Certificate of Housing
Maintenance Compliance. This section shall not apply to any lawfully licensed multiple -
dwelling structure, and shall have no effect upon the provisions of law or other ordinances
relating to the issuance of building permits.
Section 8. Section 15-331 is amended to read as follows:
Section 15-331. Application; Inspection. Application for the Certificate of Housing
Maintenance Compliance shall be made upon forms furnished by the city. Upon receipt
of a properly executed application for a Certificate of Housing Maintenance Compliance,
the City Manager shall cause an inspection to be made of the premises to insure that
the structure is in compliance with the requirements of the ordinance code. The
requirements which must be satisfied in order to obtain a Certificate of Housing
Maintenance Compliance are provided in the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code.
Section 9. Section 15-332 is amended to read as follows:
Section 15-332. Issuance of Certificate.
(1) If the single or two-family structure is in compliance with the
requirements of the ordinance code, a Certificate of Housing
Maintenance Compliance shall be issued to the present owner, occupant
or agent which shall state that the structure has been inspected and
is in compliance with the requirements of the ordinance code. The
present owner, occupant, or any agent designated by the present
occupant or owner shall obtain the Certificate of Housing Maintenance
Compliance. During the period of one year following its issuance, a
Certificate of Housing Maintenance Compliance may be accepted by
the city in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 15-330, without
the need for a second inspection. If the city finds that the
circumstances of occupancy following the issuance of a Certificate
of Housing Maintenance Compliance involve possible substandard
maintenance or abnormal wear and tear, a new inspection may be
required in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 15-330.
(2) The present owner, occupant, or their designated agents shall obtain
a copy of the Certificate of Housing Maintenance Compliance from
the city prior to sale or transfer of title or change of occupancy.
The proposed buyer or the prospective occupant shall not take
occupancy of the dwelling unit prior to issuance of a Certificate of
Housing Maintenance Compliance except pursuant to Subdivision 3.
(3) A person may be granted occupancy of a dwelling unit prior to issuance
of a Certificate of Housing Maintenance Compliance if approved by
the Director of Inspections. The approval of the Director of Inspections
shall be based on undue hardship or other extraordinary and exceptional
problems; provided, that no problem shall constitute an immediate
hazard as defined in Section 15-314. The approval shall not be given
until the new owner or the agent of the new owner has filed a
Statement of Intent to Comply with the Director of Inspections upon
forms provided by the city. Correction dates in the Statement of
Intent to Comply shall be established by the Director of Inspections
with consideration to undue hardship, extraordinary and exceptional
problems and weather conditions. Failure to meet the correction
dates in the Statement of Intent to Comply shall constitute a violation
of this code and a misdemeanor and shall void any approval given
pursuant to this Subdivision.
(4) Any failure by the owner, occupant, designated agents or any other
person to comply with the requirements of the St. Louis Park Housing
Code shall constitute a violation of the code and a misdemeanor.
Section 10. Section 15-333 is repealed.
Section 11. Section 15-334 is renumbered Section 15-333 and amended to read as follows:
Section 15-333. Fee. The fee for the inspection for a Certificate of Housing Maintenance
Compliance of a single or two-family dwelling unit shall be $35.00.
Section 12. Section 15-342 is amended to read as follows:
Section 15-342. Compliance with Housing Code and St. Louis Park Ordinance Code.
All rental structures or buildings as defined in Section 15-302 including all habitable
portions and accessory areas of such buildings, shall comply with the provisions of the
Housing Code and other applicable sections relating to housing maintenance in the St.
Louis Park Ordinance Code. The city shall make inspections for such compliance.
Section 13. Penalty. Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be
gt—iTriTaTi misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not more than
$500 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days or both.
Section 14. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect 15 days after its publication.
Adopted by the City Council July 18, 1983
Attest:
Reviewed for Administration
4k, , cJ-?‘
ty Manager C.3 City Attorney
Approved as to form and legality
t
0
SUN
NEWSPAPERS
AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION
ST. LOUIS PARK SUN
(Official Publication)
ORDINANCE NO 1802
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
ST. LOUIS PARK ORDINANCE
CODE RELATED TO HOUSING
MAINTENANCE AMENDING
SECTIONS 15-310, 15-330, 15-331,
15-332, 15-334 AND 15-342, ADDING
SECTIONG 15-313, 15-314, 15-315,
15-318, 15.317, REPEALING
SECTION 15-333; AND
RENUMBERING SECTION 15-334
Summary 'This ordinance relates
to housing maintenance inspections
and adopts new definitions, exempts
certain builta in. deficiencies from
compliance, defines Immediate haz-
ards and provides standards for re-
pair and replacement work It re-
quires that homeowners install
smoke detectors The ordinance also
clarifies the nature of the inspection
and the application for inspection and
clarifies the filing of the Certificate of
Housing Maintenance Cohpliance
with owners, occupants, and their
agents and the issuance of a
Certificate prior to work completion
Adopted by,the City Council July 18,
1983 -
,(5) LYLE W HANKS
Mayor
A copy of the full text of this or-
dinance is available for inspei•tion
with the City Clerk
(July 27, 1983) -SLP
924 Excelsior Avenue West Hopkins, Minnnesota
State of Minnesota
County of Hennepin
D K MORTENSON, being duly sworn, on oath says he is and during all times here stated has been the
vice president and general manager of the newspaper know as The St Louis Park Sun and has full
knowledge of the facts herein stated as follows (1) Said newspaper is printed in the English language in
newspaper format and in column and sheet form equivalent in printed space to at (east 900 square inches
(2) Said newspaper is a weekly and is distributed at least once every week (3) Said newspaper has 50%
of its news columns devoted to news of local interest to the community which it purports to serve and does
not wholly duplicate any other publication and is not made up entirely of patents, plate matter and
advertisement (4) Said newspaper is circulated in and near the municipalities which it purports to
serve, has at least 500 copies regularly delivered to paying subscribers, has an average of at least 75%
of its total circulation currently paid or no more than three months in arrears and has entry as second-
class matter in its local post -office (5) Said newspaper purports to serve the City of St Louis Park,
Golden Valley School District No 275 and Robbinsdale School District No 281 in the County of Hennepin
and it has its known office of issue in the City of Hopkins in said county, established and open during its
regular business hours for the gathering of news, sale of advertisements and sale of subscriptions and
maintained by the managing officer of said newspaper or persons in its employ and subject to his
direction and control during all such regular business hours and devoted exclusively during such regula
business hours and at which said newspaper is printed (6) Said newspaper files a copy of each issue
immediately with the State Historical Society (7) Said newspaper is made available at single or
subscription prices to any person, corporation, partnership or other unincorporated association
requesting the newspaper and making the applicable payment (8) Said newspaper has complied with all
foregoing conditions for at least one year preceding the day or dates of publication mentioned below (9)
Said newspaper has filed with the Secretary of State of Minnesota prior to January 1, 1966 and each
January 1 thereafter and affidavit in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State and signed by the
managing officer of said newspaper and sworn to before a notary public stating that the newspaper is a
legal newspaper
He further states on oath that the printed Ordinance No. 1 602
hereto attached as a part hereof was cut from the columns of said newspaper, and was printed
and published therein in the English language, once each week, for one successive weeks,
that it was first so published on Wed the
27
and was thereafter printed and published on every
day of July
19 83
to and including
the day of 19 and that the following is a printed copy
of the lower case alphabet from A to Z, both inclusive, and is hereby acknowledged as being the size and
kind of type used in the composition and publication of said notice, to wit
abcdefghti kl mnopq rstu vwxyz
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29
MERJDEL M. HEDBLOM
NOTARY PUBLIC - MINNESOT9
HENNEPIN COUNTY
My commission expires July 2, 1986
day of July
19 83