Chapter 13.01
TITLE, PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY
Sections:
13.01.010 Title.
The regulations contained within Chapters 13.01 through 13.25, inclusive, shall collectively be known as “Title 13 Building and Construction” and are referred to herein as “this Title.” This Title may also be known and cited as the “Yakima County Building Code.”
(Ord. 4-2021 § 2, 2021).
13.01.020 Purpose.
The purpose of this title is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and general public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and placement, repair and maintenance of all buildings and structures within Yakima County and of certain equipment specifically regulated herein and to safeguard to a reasonable degree life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling, and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises. Enactment and enforcement of this Title is intended to only protect the general public welfare and not specific persons or property. Nothing in this Title or the various Codes adopted by reference herein shall be construed to impose any legal duty, directly or indirectly, upon Yakima County or its officials and employees to protect individual persons or property in individual circumstances.
(Ord. 4-2021 § 2, 2021).
13.01.030 Authority.
The provisions of this Title are adopted pursuant to the authority granted in RCW Chapters 19.27, 36.32, 36.43, 46.55, and 35.80 which authorize counties within the State of Washington to: (1) adopt by reference uniform building codes and standards; (2) provide for their administration and enforcement; (3) amend or limit the applicability of such codes and standards; (4) set fees within such codes; (5) provide that any violation of the provisions of said code as adopted shall constitute a misdemeanor or a civil violation subject to a monetary penalty, and (6) provide that a county may by ordinance (a) prescribe minimum standards for the use and occupancy of dwellings throughout the county; (b) prescribe minimum standards for the use and occupancy of any building, structure or premises used for any other purpose, (c) prevent the use or occupancy of any dwelling, building or structure, or premises, that is injurious to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare; (d) prescribe punishment for the violation of any provision of such ordinance. These provisions are also authorized and adopted pursuant to general police power authority granted to counties under Article XI, Section XI of the Washington State Constitution.
(Ord. 4-2021 § 2, 2021).
13.01.040 Severability.
Should any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, clause or other provision of this Title be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining portions of this Title shall continue in full force and effect and such decision shall not affect the validity of this title as a whole, or any part thereof other than the part so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
(Ord. 4-2021 § 2, 2021).