Chapter 16.16
OWNER AND TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES
Sections:
16.16.020 Occupant responsibility.
16.16.030 Owner responsibility.
16.16.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to direct the attention of the occupants of dwellings to certain obligations that they have in respect to the maintenance of conditions in those dwellings and to provide a procedure wherein certain deficiencies in those conditions may be brought to the attention of the occupant along with methods of correcting those deficiencies. The penalties are provided as a deterrent to those who would reject this informational process through gross indifference, active disregard, or willful refusal to comply. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 936 § 1, 1967].
16.16.020 Occupant responsibility.
An occupant of a dwelling unit shall not willfully:
A. Allow that part of the dwelling unit which he occupies and controls to become or remain in an unsafe or unsanitary condition;
B. Allow plumbing and other fixtures, whether or not supplied by the owner, to become or remain in an unsafe or unsanitary condition. If the fixtures are supplied by the owner, the occupant shall use reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof;
C. Allow any insects, rodents or other pests to infest the dwelling unit, so as to render it unsafe or unsanitary, when no other dwelling unit in the residential building is so infested, and the owner has provided a reasonably insect-proof and rodent-proof building;
D. Dispose of garbage or other refuse in other than an approved garbage receptacle. When approved garbage receptacles are not provided by the owner, it is the responsibility of the occupant to provide approved garbage receptacles;
E. Place on the premises any material which creates an unsafe or unsanitary condition;
F. Place or maintain in or about the premises any furniture, equipment, material, debris or junk harboring insects, rodents or pests to such extent as to render the premises or surrounding dwelling units unsafe or unsanitary;
G. Permit any dwelling unit let to him to be occupied so that any occupancy or use resulting therefrom violates any of the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 936 § 2, 1967].
16.16.030 Owner responsibility.
This chapter shall not be construed as relieving the owner of any responsibility to the occupant imposed upon the owner by any applicable ordinance or law, even though:
A. An obligation is also imposed upon the occupants; or
B. The owner has, by agreement, imposed upon the occupant the duty of furnishing required equipment or of complying with applicable ordinances or laws. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 936 § 3, 1967].
16.16.040 Enforcement.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the neighborhood services division. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(J)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0934 § 2, 1993; SCC 0869 § 22, 1992; SCC 135 § 1, 1973; SCC 936 § 4, 1967].
16.16.050 Penalties.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 60 days, or by a fine of not more than $200.00, or both. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 936 § 5, 1967].