§ 18-92. Definitions.

(a)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Approved means constructed, installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this article and other pertinent provisions of this code and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

Basement means a portion of a building located partly underground, but having less than half its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.

Cellar means a portion of a building located partly or wholly underground, and having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.

Dwelling means any building or structure, or part thereof, used and occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto and enjoyed therewith.

Dwelling unit means any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.

Extermination means the control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination method approved by the building official.

Family shall mean two or more persons living together and interrelated by bonds of consanguinity, marriage or legal adoption, and/or a group of persons not more than three in number who are not so interrelated, occupying the whole or part of a dwelling as a separate housekeeping unit with a single set of culinary facilities. Any person under the age of 18 years whose legal custody has been awarded to the State Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services or to a child-placing agency licensed by the department, or who is otherwise considered to be a foster child under the laws of the state and who is placed in foster care with a family, shall be deemed to be related to and a member of the family for purposes of this definition.

Garbage means the animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.

Habitable room means a room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers, communicating corridors, closet or storage spaces.

Household means all persons who occupy a dwelling unit as a family. The term "household" shall not include the occupants of a roominghouse, a group home/congregate living facility, a fraternity or sorority house or other similar use with shared cooking or sanitary facilities.

Infestation means the presence, within or around a dwelling, of any noxious insects, rodents or other pests.

Inspector means the person designated by the building official to carry out the duties of inspection, as stated in this chapter.

Multiple dwelling means any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.

Nonresidential structure means any structure that is not a residential structure. The term "nonresidential structure" shall include, but is not limited to, any occupied or unoccupied structure, commercial structures or buildings, mixed use buildings or structures that include both dwelling units and office or retail combinations, and every other structure that is not a dwelling.

Occupant means any person, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in, or having actual possession of, dwelling unit or rooming unit.

Owner means and includes a holder of any legal or equitable estate in the premises, whether alone of jointly with others, and whether in possession or not.

Parties in interest means all individuals, associations, partnerships, corporations, and others who have interest in a dwelling and as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or the owner or owners shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if such parties were the owner, and upon failure to comply therewith such parties shall be subject to the same penalties provided in this article.

Plumbing means and includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.

Premises means a platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land or plot of land either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure.

Public hall means any hall, corridor or passageway not within the exclusive control of one family.

Residential structure means any dwelling, dwelling unit or structure where any part of the structure is used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.

Rooming unit means any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.

Roominghouse means any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling, in which rooms for living purposes are rented for compensation to three or more persons other than members of the family of the proprietor.

Rubbish means all household trash and waste materials, except garbage, and the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material, such as paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust. Such materials are distinguished from garden trash, which term includes accumulations of grass, tree or shrubbery cuttings and other refuse incident to the care of lawns, shrubbery, vines and trees.

Single unit dwelling means a dwelling occupied by one family alone.

Structure means that which is built or constructed. All structures are either residential or nonresidential.

Supplied means paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of the owner or operator, his agents or representatives.

Water closet means a toilet, with a bowl and a trap made in one piece, which is connected to the city water and sewer system or other approved water supply and sewer system.

Workmanlike state of maintenance and repair means in such a state so as to comply with all codes and ordinances pertaining to construction of buildings and installation of utilities.

(b)

Whenever the terms "dwelling," "dwelling unit," "roominghouse," "rooming unit," or "premises" are used in this article, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."

(Code 1979, § 15-18; Ord. No. 4641-16, § 1, 7-18-2016)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.