Elk Grove Municipal Code Art. IA Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. (Reserved)

B. “B” Definitions.

“Building”

shall mean a structure or part thereof.

“Building Code”

is the Uniform Building Code adopted pursuant to EGMC Chapter 16.04.

C. “C” Definitions.

“Clerk”

means the City Clerk, or his or her designated representative.

“Complaint”

means notification by any person, lodged with the Code Enforcement Division of the City of Elk Grove, of a violation or a suspected violation of the housing code or this chapter.

D. “D” Definitions.

“Demolish”

means to destroy a building and to remove all debris and waste materials from the lot on which the building stood.

“Department”

means the Community Development Department of the City of Elk Grove.

“Director”

shall mean the City Manager of the City of Elk Grove or his or her designated representatives.

“Displaced.”

A tenant is “displaced,” within the meaning of this chapter, if the tenant is ordered to move out of a rented dwelling unit or structure by an order to vacate issued by the City.

“Dwelling”

shall mean any building or structure or part thereof used and occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used, and includes any garages or other accessory buildings belonging thereto, including those which are rented or leased for any term or duration, type or tenure.

“Dwelling unit”

shall mean any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single unit with the facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating.

E. “E” Definitions.

“Electrical Code”

is the National Electrical Code as adopted and as modified by the City of Elk Grove Electrical Code set forth in EGMC Chapter 16.28.

“Enforcement”

means diligent effort to secure compliance or abatement, including review of plans and permit applications, response to complaints, citation of violations, and other legal process. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, “enforcement” may, but need not, include inspections of existing buildings on which no complaint or permit application has been filed, and efforts to secure compliance as to such existing buildings.

F. “F” Definitions.

“Fire Chief”

shall mean the Fire Chief of the Cosumnes Community Services District Fire Department.

“Fire Code”

is the Uniform Fire Code adopted pursuant to EGMC Chapter 17.04.

G. (Reserved)

H. “H” Definitions.

“Hearing Officer”

means an active member of the Bar of the State of California appointed by the City Manager to hear matters as provided for and described in this chapter. The Hearing Officer shall also serve as the housing appeals board as that term is used in the State Housing Law.

“Housing code”

means this chapter and includes the Building Code, the Electrical Code, the Mechanical Code, the Plumbing Code and the State Housing Law.

“Housing code enforcement fund”

means the housing code enforcement fund established by this chapter.

“Housing stock conservation fee”

means the fee assessed under this chapter for each rental dwelling unit.

I. (Reserved)

J. (Reserved)

K. (Reserved)

L. “L” Definitions.

“Landlord”

means an owner, lessor, or sublessor (including any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity) who receives or is entitled to receive rent for the use of any dwelling, or the agent, representative, or successor of any of the foregoing.

M. “M” Definitions.

“Mechanical Code”

is the Uniform Mechanical Code adopted pursuant to EGMC Chapter 16.32.

N. (Reserved)

O. “O” Definitions.

“Occupant”

shall mean any person over one (1) year of age living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in, or having actual possession of a dwelling unit.

“Occupied”

shall mean any actions associated with living in or occupying a property including, but not limited to, sleeping, cooking, eating, bathing, and dressing.

“Order to vacate”

means a written notice served by an authorized City official on the owner and posted on the affected property declaring that, due to failure to repair or maintain, the dwelling shall be vacated.

“Owner”

means the owner of fee title to a dwelling unit.

P. “P” Definitions.

“Parties in interest”

shall mean all persons, businesses, partnerships, and corporations who have a mortgage or other interest of public record in a dwelling or dwelling unit, or who are in possession thereof.

“Plumbing Code”

is the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted pursuant to EGMC Chapter 16.24.

“Program”

means the housing code enforcement program created under this chapter.

“Proof of compliance”

means documentation, on such form and in such manner as the Director may provide, that the deficiencies noted in the order or citation issued by the City have been corrected.

“Public record”

shall mean deeds, mortgages and other instruments of record relating to land titles and recorded by the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder.

Q. (Reserved)

R. “R” Definitions.

“REAP”

means the rent escrow account program provided by this chapter.

“REAP account”

means the account established by this chapter, of that name, which shall be established and maintained by the Finance Director of the City either as an account or a fund, and may, for the purpose of accounting records, any audits thereof and any reports or statements with respect thereto, be treated either as an account or a fund; but all such records with respect to any such fund shall at all times be maintained in accordance with sound accounting practice.

“Repair and demolition fund”

means the fund established by this chapter, of that name, which shall be established and maintained by the Finance Director of the City either as an account or a fund, and may, for the purpose of accounting records, any audits thereof and any reports or statements with respect thereto, be treated either as an account or a fund; all such records with respect to any such fund shall at all times be maintained in accordance with sound accounting practice.

“Rental dwelling unit”

means a dwelling unit rented for any tenure, type or price.

S. “S” Definitions.

“State Housing Law”

means Division 13, Part 1.5 of the Health and Safety Code (commencing at Section 17913) and Article I (commencing at Section 1) of Chapter 1, Title 25 of the California Code of Regulation.

“Substandard dwelling”

shall have the same meaning as substandard building as set forth in Section 17920.3 of the Health and Safety Code, or any successor statute.

T. “T” Definitions.

“Tenant”

means the individual or individuals occupying a rental dwelling unit.

U. “U” Definitions.

“Untenantable Rental Dwelling Unit.”

A rental dwelling unit shall be deemed “untenantable,” for the purposes of this chapter, if it or the common area of the dwelling, structure, or premises in which it is located is the subject of a housing code citation or order pursuant to this chapter and substantially lacks any of the affirmative standard characteristics set forth in Section 1941.1 of the Civil Code.

“Utilities”

means electrical, sewer, natural gas and water services provided by the local service provider or provided under other means as approved by finalized permit with the Elk Grove Building and Safety Inspection Department.

V. “V” Definitions.

“Vacation date”

means the date by which a tenant is required to vacate a rental dwelling unit, pursuant to an order by an authorized City official.

W. (Reserved)

X. (Reserved)

Y. (Reserved)

Z. (Reserved)

(Ord. 2000-1 § 1, eff. 7-1-2000; Ord. 2000-14A § 1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 7-2009 § 3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 8-2010 § 1, eff. 5-14-2010; Ord. 4-2012 § 1, eff. 4-27-2012; Ord. 24-2015 § 7 (Exh. E), eff. 2-12-2016; Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. F), eff. 7-25-2025)