Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 15.54 Safety Assessment Placards

This chapter establishes standards for placards to be used by the city of Hanford to indicate the condition of a building or structure for continued occupancy. The chapter authorizes the building official and his or her authorized representatives to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)

The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the city of Hanford.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)

Safety assessment is a visual, non-destructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining its condition for continued occupancy.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)

The following are verbal descriptions of the placards to be used to designate the condition of buildings and structures for continued occupancy.

A. A placard stating: "INSPECTED - Lawful Occupancy Permitted" shall be posted on any building or structure wherein no visual structural hazard has been found during a safety assessment. The posting of this placard shall not, in any way, imply the absence of non-visual damage to the building or structure.

B. A placard stating: "RESTRICTED USE" shall be posted on any building or structure that is damaged and, as a result, some form of restriction for continued occupancy is required. The individual posting this placard will note on the placard the type of damage discovered and the restrictions on continued occupancy.

C. A placard stating: "UNSAFE - Do No Enter or Occupy" shall be posted on any building or structure that has been damaged and as a result, continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Entry into buildings or structures posted with this placard is prohibited under any circumstance except as authorized in writing by the city building official, or his or her authorized representative. Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings or structures at any time. This placard does not constitute a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard will note on the placard the type of damage discovered.

D. The number of this chapter of the Hanford Municipal Code and the applicable city address, and phone number shall be permanently affixed to each placard.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)

Each inspector or authorized person posting placards will be assigned an identification number. This identification number will be placed on the placard, to identify the individual posting the placard.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)

It shall be a misdemeanor for anyone other than the building official or authorized agent of the building official of the city of Hanford, to remove, alter, disregard, or change a posted placard.

(Ord. 04-12, 2004)