Fowler Municipal Code Ch. 12 Inspection of Residential Buildings

The City Council finds and determines as follows:

(a) It is, and long has been the policy of the City of Fowler to protect the health and safety of its citizens from the ill effects of dilapidated and dangerous conditions in buildings, which render the buildings unsafe and a menace to the health and safety of their occupants and neighbors.

(b) It is, and long has been the policy of the City of Fowler to cause the unsafe conditions to be corrected or the buildings abated.

(c) The City of Fowler is currently experiencing, and for the future anticipates, severe instances of violations of local and state building and housing codes arising from overcrowding conditions in residential housing units within the City of Fowler.

(d) These conditions are expressly found by this City Council to constitute an immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of such housing and other residents of the City of Fowler.

(e) The City Council of the City of Fowler is continuing its efforts to assure that all the residents of the City of Fowler have safe and healthful living conditions.

(Ord. 94-5 § 1, 10-6-94; Ord. 2008-04 § 1 (part), 8-1-08)

(a) The Utility Billing Account Clerk of the City shall notify the Building Official immediately upon a house, residential unit, or other building used for human habitation ("Residential Building") becoming vacated or upon change of ownership.

(b) The Building Official shall make inspections of the residential building which shall not exceed one per each twenty-four (24) months, except at the request of the owner or his agent or upon the request of a tenant, provided further that this section shall not apply to or limit inspections ordered or obtained by the issuance of a warrant from a court having jurisdiction thereof.

(c) Upon the inspection and upon making a determination as to whether said residential building is unfit for human habitation or whether the residential building is otherwise unsafe and dangerous, and upon making such a determination, the Building Official shall take steps to have any unsafe conditions corrected or to abate the residential building in accordance with State and Municipal Building and Housing Codes.

(d) Unless an emergency exists, the Building Official shall first seek consent of the Residential Building owner or tenant to inspect the premises and should consent be denied, the Building Official shall obtain an administrative inspection warrant pursuant to the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1822.50 through 1822.59.

(Ord. 94-5 § 1, 10-6-94; Ord. 2008-04 § 1 (part), 8-1-08)

The City Council shall by resolution, adopt a reasonable fee for the expense of causing an inspection by the Building Official, and the Building Official shall collect such fee for the inspection of each residential building to the extent permissible by law.

(Ord. 94-5 § 1, 10-6-94; Ord. 2008-04 § 1 (part), 8-1-08)