Redondo Beach Municipal Code Art. 5 Immediate Abatement

In circumstances where, in the judgment of the Building Official, the condition of the building, structure or parcel of land is so imminently hazardous that an emergency exists involving the physical safety of the populace and it is infeasible to follow the procedures set forth in Articles 1 through 4 of this chapter, the Building Official is authorized to follow the procedure for abatement set forth in this Article 5.

(§ 1, Ord. 2688 c.s., eff. May 6, 1993)

(a) In the event that the Building Official has so determined that the hazard must be abated immediately, he shall make a good faith attempt to notify the owner by telephone or any other available means, informing him of the conditions found to render the premises immediately hazardous and issue a written or oral order of abatement describing the work that must be done pursuant to the order, the time limits therefor and a statement that if the work is not satisfactorily performed within such time period, the Building Official will order the work to be done by the City.

(b) The Building Official shall also make a good faith attempt to ascertain the identity of and notify other persons affected by the order set forth in Section 9-21.203, using the telephone or any other reasonably available means to acquaint them with the contents of the order.

(c) If the work to be performed under the order is not timely performed or otherwise not performed to the satisfaction of the Building Official, he shall request the City Engineer to perform such work and the City Engineer shall do so expeditiously using City forces or outside contractors or both.

(§ 1, Ord. 2688 c.s., eff. May 6, 1993)

In the event that the Building Official has so determined that the hazard must be abated immediately and further determines that the hazard is so imminently dangerous that there is insufficient time to notify the owner and other affected persons thereof and have the owner perform the work, the Building Official, without giving notice or an order or a hearing to the owner or other affected persons, shall request the City Engineer to abate the hazard immediately. The City Engineer shall thereupon cause the building, structure or parcel of land or any portion thereof which is causing the hazard to be immediately repaired, vacated, barricaded, removed, demolished, regraded, excavated, shored, recompacted or otherwise abated by such means as the City Engineer may deem advisable either by using City forces or private contractors or both.

(§ 1, Ord. 2688 c.s., eff. May 6, 1993)

Buildings, structures or parcels of land which are vacated pursuant to the provisions of this Article 5 shall be locked and otherwise secured against ingress and the Building Official shall post thereupon in a conspicuous place near the entrance a placard warning that the building, structure or land is unsafe. Any warning placard posted pursuant to this section shall not be defaced, covered, removed or hidden from view in any manner.

(§ 1, Ord. 2688 c.s., eff. May 6, 1993)

(a) The costs and expenses incurred by the City in abating the hazard as provided in Sections 9-21.502 through 9-21.504 shall be charged against the property causing the hazard or on which the particular building or structure or portion thereof causing the hazard is located. A hearing shall be held thereupon and a lien placed on the property in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 9-21.404 through 9-21.411.

(b) The City shall not charge administrative costs (staff time and overhead) for an abatement resulting from a course of events which prompted a declaration of a state of emergency, local emergency, war emergency or major disaster by the Mayor, Governor of California or President of the United States.

(§ 1, Ord. 2688 c.s., eff. May 6, 1993)