Chapter 13.210
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE

Sections:

13.210.010    International Property Maintenance Code.

13.210.020    Repealed.

13.210.010 International Property Maintenance Code.

The most current edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, as published by the International Code Council, as now or hereafter amended, is hereby adopted to be the property maintenance code of the City of SeaTac with the following additions, deletions and exceptions:

A. IPMC Section 101.1 shall reflect that the name of the jurisdiction is the City of SeaTac.

B. IPMC Section 102.3 is amended to delete all references to the International Plumbing Code. The last sentence in IPMC 102.3 is hereby deleted in its entirety.

C. IPMC Section 107, Means of Appeal, is hereby repealed in its entirety and replaced by the following:

Any references to the Board of Appeals shall be deemed to refer to the Hearing Examiner system of Chapter 1.20 SMC.

D. IPMC Section 108, Board of Appeals, is hereby repealed in its entirety.

E. IPMC Section 110.4, Failure to comply, is hereby repealed in its entirety.

F. IPMC Section 201.3 is amended to delete references to the International Plumbing Code and the International Zoning Code.

G. Subsection 301.3, Vacant structures and land, is repealed in its entirety and replaced by the following:

301.3 Vacant Structures. All vacant structures and premises thereof must comply with this Code. Vacant structures shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem or otherwise adversely affect the public health, safety or quality of life.

301.3.1 Appearance. All vacant structures must appear to be occupied or shall be secured as specified herein.

301.3.2 Security. All vacant structures must be secured against outside entry at all times. Security shall be by the normal building amenities such as windows and doors having adequate strength to resist intrusion. All doors and windows must remain locked. Exterior walls and roofs must remain intact without holes.

301.3.2.1 Architectural (Cosmetic) Structural panels. Architectural structural panels may be used to secure windows, doors and other openings provided they are cut to fit the opening and match the characteristics of the building. Architectural panels may be of exterior grade finished plywood or Medium Density Overlaid plywood (MDO).

301.3.2.2 Security fences. Temporary construction fencing shall not be used as a method to secure a structure from entry for a period exceeding 30 days.

301.3.3 Weather protection. The exterior roofing and siding shall be maintained as required in Section 304.

301.3.4 Fire Safety.

301.3.4.1 Fire protection systems. All fire suppression and alarms systems shall be maintained in a working condition and inspected as required by the Fire Department.

301.3.4.2 Flammable liquids. No vacant structure or premises or portion thereof shall be used for the storage of flammable liquids or other materials that constitute a safety or fire hazard.

301.3.4.3 Combustible materials. All debris, combustible materials, litter and garbage shall be removed from vacant structures, their accessory buildings and adjoining yard areas. The structure and premises shall be maintained free from such items.

301.3.4.4 Fire inspections. Periodic fire department inspections may be required at intervals set forth by the fire chief or his designee.

301.3.5 Plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixtures connected to an approved water system, an approved sewage system, or an approved natural gas utility system shall be installed in accordance with applicable codes and be maintained in sound condition and good repair or removed and the service terminated in the manner prescribed by applicable codes.

301.3.5.1 Freeze protection. The structure’s water systems shall be protected from freezing.

301.3.6 Electrical. Electrical service lines, wiring, outlets or fixtures not installed or maintained in accordance with applicable codes shall be repaired, removed or the electrical services terminated to the structure in accordance with applicable codes.

301.3.7 Heating. Heating facilities or heating equipment in vacant structures shall be removed, rendered inoperable, or maintained in accordance with applicable codes.

301.3.8 Interior floors. If a hole in a floor presents a hazard, the hole shall be covered and secured with three-quarter (3/4) inch plywood, or a material of equivalent strength, cut to overlap the hole on all sides by at least six (6) inches.

301.3.9 Termination of utilities. The code official may, by written notice to the owner and to the appropriate water, electricity or gas utility, request that water, electricity, or gas service to a vacant structure be terminated or disconnected.

301.3.9.1 Restoration of Service. If water, electricity or gas service has been terminated or disconnected pursuant to Section 313.9, no one except the utility may take any action to restore the service, including an owner or other private party requesting restoration of service until written notification is given by the code official that service may be restored.

301.3.10 Notice to person responsible. Whenever the code official has reason to believe that a structure is vacant, the code official may inspect the structure and premises. If the code official determines that a vacant structure violates any provision of this section, the code official shall notify in writing, the owner of the structure, or real property upon which the structure is located, or other person responsible, of the violations and required corrections and shall be given a time frame to comply.

301.3.10.1 Alternate requirements. The requirements and time frames of this section may be modified under an approved Voluntary Correction Agreement (VCA). Within 30 days of notification that a structure or real property upon which the structure is located, is in violation of this Section, an owner may submit a written proposed VCA for the code official to review and approve if found acceptable. A Correction Agreement may allow:

1) Extended use of non-architectural panels

2) Extended use of temporary security fencing

3) Extended time before the demolition of a structure is required

4) For substandard conditions to exist for a specific period of time, provided the structure is secured in an approved manner. When considering a VCA, the code official shall take into consideration the magnitude of the violation and the impact to the neighborhood.

301.3.11 Enforcement. Violations of this section shall be enforced according to the provisions and procedures of Chapter 1.15 of the SeaTac Municipal Code and subject to the monetary penalties contained therein.

301.3.11.1 Abatement. A structure or structure accessory thereto that remains vacant and open to entry after the required compliance date is found and declared to be a public nuisance. The code official is hereby authorized to summarily abate the violation by securing the structure to unauthorized entry. The costs of abatement shall be collected from the owner in the manner provided by law.

301.3.11.2 Unsafe structures and equipment. Any vacant structure or equipment therein, declared unsafe is subject to the provisions of Section 111 and the demolition provisions of Section 113.

H. The first sentence of IPMC 302.4, Weeds, is hereby repealed in its entirety.

I. The first sentence of IPMC Section 304.14, Insect screens, is hereby amended to read as follows:

At all times, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any other areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm) and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

J. The first sentence of IPMC Section 602.3, Heat supply, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units, on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat at all times to maintain a temperature of not less than 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.

K. The first sentence of IPMC 602.4, Occupiable work spaces, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat at all times to maintain a temperature of not less than 65°F (18°C) during the period the spaces are occupied.

(Ord. 23-1016 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 20-1028 § 5; Ord. 16-1008 § 7 (part): Ord. 13-1009 § 7: Ord. 10-1018 § 10 (part): Ord. 07-1012 § 5: Ord. 04-1008 § 3)

13.210.020 Copy on file.

Repealed by Ord. 23-1016. (Ord. 20-1028 § 5; Ord. 16-1008 § 7 (part): Ord. 10-1018 § 10 (part): Ord. 04-1008 § 3)