Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Ch. 7 Substandard Housing Owners

* Sections 5-7.01 through 5-7.04, codified from Section 6150, T.O.O.C., repealed by § 15, Ordinance No. 1250-NS, effective January 9, 1996; Sections 5-7.01 through 5-7.04, codified from § 1, Ordinance No. 1319-NS, effective June 4, 1998)

(a) Substandard buildings as defined in the Uniform Housing Code pose a threat to the health and safety of those who live in such conditions and, if unattended, detrimentally impact property values, compromise the general welfare of the surrounding community, and erode public confidence in its local government. Experience from larger cities reveals that left unchecked, substandard housing leads to physical and economic blight, demoralizing entire neighborhoods.

(b) Currently, Thousand Oaks has a relatively young housing stock and does not have a widespread problem with substandard buildings. As the housing stock ages, the occurrence of substandard conditions will increase. However, it is a better practice to anticipate future problems and act now to minimize or avoid these problems. Whenever possible, property owners deserve to be notified and provided an opportunity to abate substandard conditions occurring on their property. However, a Property Owner’s repeated failure to correct substandard conditions will not be tolerated.

(c) The purpose of the ordinance codified in this chapter is to identify those property owners who do not comply with final orders of the Code Compliance Officer, designate such property owners as “Substandard Housing Owners,” and place all properties owned by Substandard Housing Owners into a proactive code compliance program, in order to encourage Property Owners to properly manage, control and maintain their properties and to deter Property Owners from allowing people to live in substandard conditions.

(§ 1, Ord. 1319-NS, eff. June 4, 1998)

For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Property Owner” shall mean an individual having any interest in any real property intended for human habitation, or an individual having any interest in any entity, partnership, trust, or corporation having any interest in any real property intended for human habitation. Property owner shall not include a person with only a mortgage, lien, or similar security interest in such property.

(b) “Substandard Housing Owner” shall mean any Property Owner who, on two (2) or more occasions within a twelve (12) month period, has failed to obey a “final order” of the Code Compliance Officer made pursuant to the Uniform Housing Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 1319-NS, eff. June 4, 1998)

All property with a building or buildings intended for human habitation owned by a Substandard Housing Owner shall be subject to the Substandard Housing Owner Proactive Code Compliance Policy adopted by resolution of the City Council.

(§ 1, Ord. 1319-NS, eff. June 4, 1998)

A property may be removed from enforcement under the Substandard Housing Owner Proactive Code Compliance Policy if: (1) a City inspection of the subject building, condominium unit or apartment unit uncovers no violations of the Uniform Housing Code, or, if violations are discovered, are abated within the period required by the Code Compliance Officer; or (2) if after a visual exterior inspection no violations of any applicable laws or codes are identified by any City-designated enforcement officers.

(§ 1, Ord. 1319-NS, eff. June 4, 1998)