Santa Clara County Municipal Code Ch. VI Safety Assessment Placards

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish the use of a Safety Assessment Placard to provide notice of the condition of a Structure for occupancy after a Disaster. The use of a Safety Assessment Placard is intended to prevent the unsafe or improper occupancy of the Structure.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)

This Chapter is applicable to any Structure regulated by the County of Santa Clara.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)

In addition to the definitions of Chapter I of Division A1 and Chapter I of Division C1, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) Disaster means a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.

(b) Safety Assessment means a visual, non-destructive examination of a Structure, conducted by the Building Official or his or her designees, for the purpose of determining the condition of a Structure for continued occupancy, including no occupancy, following a Disaster.

(c) Safety Assessment Placard is a sign approved by the Department of Planning and Development that is attached to a Structure after a Disaster and describes the condition for continued occupancy of a Structure.

(d) Structure means anything constructed or erected for occupancy, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)

The Building Official, or his or her designee, is authorized to attach a Safety Assessment Placard at each available entry point to any Structure following a Safety Assessment and in accordance with this Chapter. The Building Official, or his or her designee, may update, revise, replace, or remove any Safety Assessment Placard attached to a Structure following a complete inspection of the Structure or after additional information becomes available.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)

(a) The following descriptions shall be used on a Safety Assessment Placard to describe the condition for continued occupancy of a Structure:

(1) Inspected - Lawful Occupancy Permitted shall be used on any Structure where no apparent structural hazard to restrict occupancy has been found. Posting of this placard shall not mean there is no damage to the Structure.

(2) Restricted Use shall be used on any Structure that has been damaged and results in restrictions to continued occupancy. The Building Official, or his or her designee, shall include a general description of the type of damage and shall clearly identify the restrictions on continued occupancy.

(3) Unsafe - Do Not Enter or Occupy shall be used on any Structure where continued occupancy presents a threat to life safety. The Building Official, or his or her designee, shall include a general description of the type of damage. Any Structure with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstances except as authorized in writing by the Building Official, or his or her designee. The Building Official, or his or her designee, or emergency services personnel shall be authorized to enter Structure at any time. This placard shall not be used or considered an order to demolish the Structure.

(b) The Safety Assessment Placard shall display the applicable Ordinance Code citation and name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the Development Services Division of the Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development.

(c) No Person shall alter, remove, cover, or deface any Safety Assessment Placard posted to any Structure unless authorized by the Building Official, or his or her designee.

(d) No Person shall enter, occupy, or violate the conditions of occupancy of any Structure where the Safety Assessment Placard prohibits entering, occupying, or otherwise conditions the occupancy.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)

(a) Any Person violating any provision of this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any Structure occupied in violation of the description in the Safety Assessment Placard is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be abated by the County pursuant to Chapter III of Division A1 of this Code.

(Ord. No. NS-1100.129, § 1, 11-6-18)