Chapter 10 — SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS

1001 General. Any dwelling unit, guest room or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the conditions referenced in this section to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the public or the occupants thereof shall be deemed and hereby are declared to be substandard buildings.

1002 Nuisance. Buildings or portions thereof in which there exists any nuisance as defined in this code are deemed substandard buildings.

1003 Inadequate and Hazardous Plumbing. Buildings or portions thereof shall be deemed substandard and hazardous when they do not meet the requirements for new building as determined by the 2013 California Plumbing Code as amended and adopted by the City. Plumbing which was installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation or plumbing not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or which has not been maintained in good condition or which is not free of cross-connections or siphonage between fixtures shall be considered substandard.

It shall be the duty of the owner to provide documentation of compliance when it cannot be determined when the installation was completed and/or if installed in accordance with acceptable construction practices and/or is installed and maintained in a safe manner. Such documentation shall be a written report prepared by a licensed plumbing contractor detailing how the plumbing is installed and maintained in a safe manner.

Substandard and hazardous plumbing shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1003.1. Lack of, or improper water closet, lavatory, bathtub or shower in a dwelling unit or lodging house.

1003.2. Lack of, or improper water closets, lavatories and bathtubs or showers per number of guests in a hotel.

1003.3. Lack of, or improper, kitchen sink in a dwelling unit.

1003.4 Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures in a hotel.

1003.5 . Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures in a dwelling unit or lodging house.

1003.6 Lack of adequate heating.

1003.7 Lack of, or improper operation of required ventilation equipment.

1003.8 Lack of minimum amounts of natural light and ventilation required by this code.

1003.9 Room and space dimensions less than required by this code.

1003.10 Lack of required electrical lighting.

1003.11 Dampness of habitable rooms.

1003.12 Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents as determined by the Health Officer.

1003.13 General dilapidation or improper maintenance.

1003.14 Lack of connection to required sewage disposal system.

1003.15 Lack of adequate garbage and rubbish storage removal.

1004 Structural Hazards. Buildings or portions thereof shall be deemed substandard when they are or contain structural hazards as determined by the 2013 California Building Code as amended and adopted by the City. Structural hazards shall include but not be limited to the following:

1004.1. Deteriorated or inadequate foundations.

1004.2 Defective or deteriorated flooring or floor supports.

1004.3 Flooring or floor supports of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.

1004.4 Members of walls, partitions or other vertical supports that split, lean, list or buckle due to defective material or deterioration.

1004.5 Members of walls, partitions or other vertical supports that are of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.

1004.6 Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports or other horizontal members which sag, split or buckle due to defective material or deterioration.

1004.7 Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports, or other horizontal members that are of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.

1004.8 Fireplaces or chimneys which list, bulge or settle due to defective material or deterioration.

1004.9 Fireplaces or chimneys which are of insufficient size or strength to carry imposed loads with safety.

1005 Substandard and hazardous Electrical Wiring. Buildings or portions thereof shall be deemed substandard and hazardous when they do not meet the standards for new buildings as determined by the 2013 California Electrical Code as amended and adopted by the City. Electrical wiring which was installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation or electrical wiring not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or which has not been maintained in good condition or which is not being used in a safe manner shall be considered substandard.

It shall be the duty of the owner to provide documentation of compliance when it cannot be determined when the installation was completed and/or if installed in accordance with acceptable construction practices and/or is installed and maintained in a safe manner. Such documentation shall be a written report prepared by a licensed electrical contractor detailing how the electrical wiring is installed and maintained in a safe manner.

1006 Substandard and hazardous Mechanical Installations or Equipment. Buildings or portions thereof shall be deemed substandard and hazardous when they do not meet the standards for new buildings as determined by the 2013 California Mechanical Code as amended and adopted by the City. Mechanical installations and equipment which were installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or which have not been maintained in good condition or which have not been used in a safe manner shall be considered substandard.

It shall be the duty of the owner to provide documentation of compliance when it cannot be determined when the installation was completed and/or if installed in accordance with acceptable construction practices and/or is installed and maintained in a safe manner. Such documentation shall be a written report prepared by a licensed mechanical contractor detailing how the installation or equipment is installed and maintained in a safe manner.

Substandard and hazardous mechanical installations or equipment shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1006.1 Lack of approved heating facilities.

1006.2 Lack of required ventilating equipment or its approved operation.

1006.3 Lack of minimum amounts of natural light and ventilation required by this code.

1006.4 Room and space dimensions less than required by this code.

1007 Faulty Weather Protection. Buildings or portions thereof shall be considered substandard when they have faulty weather protection as determined by the 2013 California Building Code as amended and adopted by the City. Substandard weather protection shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1007.1 Deteriorated, crumbling or loose plaster.

1007.2 Deteriorated or ineffective waterproofing of exterior walls, roof, foundations or floors, including broken windows or doors.

1007.3 Defective or lack of weather protection for exterior wall coverings, including lack of paint, or weathering due to lack of paint or other approved protective covering.

1007.4 Broken, rotted, split or buckled exterior wall coverings or roof coverings.

1008 Fire Hazard. Any building or portion thereof, device, apparatus, equipment, combustible waste or vegetation which, in the opinion of the Chief of the Fire Department, is in such a condition as to cause a fire or explosion or provide a ready fuel to augment the spread and intensity of fire or explosion arising from any cause shall be considered a substandard building.

1009 Faulty Materials of Construction. The use of materials of construction, except those which are specifically allowed or approved by this code and the 2013 California Building Code as amended and adopted by the City, and which have been adequately maintained in good and safe condition, shall not cause a building to be substandard.

1010 Hazardous or Unsanitary Premises. The accumulation of weeds, vegetation, junk, dead organic matter, debris, garbage, offal, rat harborages, stagnant water (including abandoned pools or spas or the lack of a sufficient barrier surrounding either or both), combustible materials and similar materials or conditions on a premises constitutes fire, health or safety hazards which shall be abated in accordance with the procedures specified in Chapter 11 of this code. Hazardous and unsanitary premises shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1010.1 Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents as determined by the health officer.

1010.2 General dilapidation or improper maintenance of the premises as determined by the Health Officer.

1010.3 Lack of approved garbage and rubbish storage and removal facilities as determined by the Health Officer.

1011 Inadequate Exits. Except for those buildings or portions thereof which have been provided with adequate exit facilities conforming to the provisions of the 2013 California Building Code, 2013 California Fire Code, amended and adopted by the City, buildings or portions thereof whose exit facilities were installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of their construction or whose exit facilities have not been increased in number or width in relation to any increase in occupant load due to alterations, additions or change in use or occupancy subsequent to the time of construction shall be considered substandard.

Notwithstanding compliance with code requirements in effect at the time of their construction, buildings or portions thereof shall be considered substandard when the Building Official finds that an unsafe condition exists through an improper location of exits, a lack of an adequate number or width of exit, or when other conditions exist which are dangerous to human life.

1012 Inadequate Fire-protection or Firefighting Equipment. Buildings or portions thereof shall be considered substandard when they are not provided with the fire-resistive construction or fire-extinguishing systems or equipment as required by the 2013 California Building Code, 2013 California Fire Code, amended and adopted by the City, except those buildings or portions thereof which conformed with all applicable laws at the time of their construction and whose fire-resistive integrity and fire-extinguishing systems or equipment have been adequately maintained and improved in relation to any increase in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy as required by the 2013 Californian Building Code, 2013 California Fire Code, amended and adopted by the City.

1013 Improper Occupancy. All buildings or portions thereof occupied for living, sleeping, cooking or dining purposes which were not designed or intended to be used for such occupancies as required by the 2013 California Building Code, 2013 California Fire Code, amended and adopted by the City, shall be considered substandard.