§ 18-265. Certificate required for boarding building.

(a)

All buildings which are boarded shall require a certificate of boarding be issued by the city. The fee for boarding certificates shall be set by resolution of the city commission.

(b)

No person shall erect, install, place, or maintain boards over the doors, windows, or other openings of any building or structure or otherwise secure such openings by a means other than the conventional method used in the original construction and design of the building or structure without first applying for and, within 30 days of application, completing all of the steps necessary for the issuance of a boarding certificate, and thereafter having a valid and current boarding certificate issued by the building official.

(c)

The building official shall issue a boarding certificate required by subsection (1) of this section upon the submission of a written application by the owner of the property or his authorized representative or contractor; upon the payment of the required fee; and upon the confirmation, through inspection by a city inspector, that the boarding or other method of securing the building or structure has been done in compliance with this division.

(d)

The boarding certificate issued pursuant to this section shall authorize the boarding or other securing of a building or structure for a period of no greater than six months from the date of the issuance. Renewal of the boarding certificate may be granted by the special magistrate after the initial six-month period for an additional six months. A property owner or his representative or contractor seeking renewal of the boarding certificate must file with the secretary to the special magistrate a written request for hearing no later than ten business days prior to the expiration of the original certificate. The issuance of a renewal boarding certificate shall be subject to all of the following conditions:

(1)

The boarding or other method of securing the building or structure has been done in compliance with this division, as confirmed by a city inspector after inspection of the building or structure by the inspector.

(2)

The owner or his authorized representative or contractor has submitted to the building official, prior to the hearing, a detailed plan for correction, repair, or rehabilitation of violations of state or local building and housing standards and for the securing of the doors, windows, and other openings by the conventional method used in the original construction and design of the building or structure or, alternatively, a detailed plan for sale of the property to another person or entity with provision in the sale of correction, repair, or rehabilitation.

(3)

The owner or his authorized representative or contractor has submitted to the building official, prior to the hearing, a time line for applying for all appropriate permits for such work and for completing such work prior to the expiration of the renewal certificate or, alternatively, a time line for the sale of the property.

(4)

The renewal certificate may be revoked by the special master if the owner fails to comply with the plan for such work or fails to adhere to the submitted time line. Notice of hearing for the revocation of a renewal certificate shall be done in accordance with chapter 26 of this Code.

(e)

A boarding certificate may not be extended beyond the renewal period except upon demonstration that good cause for the renewal exists. Good cause shall require a showing by the owner that the certificate renewal is made necessary by conditions or events beyond the owner's control, such as inability to obtain financing for repair or rehabilitation, inability to locate a suitable buyer, unanticipated delays in construction or rehabilitation, or unanticipated damage to the property. In addition, where appropriate, good cause shall also require a showing by the owner that the owner has exercised reasonable and due diligence in attempting to complete the needed correction, repair, or rehabilitation, or is attempting to sell the property. If the special master determines that there exists good cause to renew the certificate, the certificate may be renewed by the special master for a period of up to, but not more than, an additional six months, subject to all of the same conditions imposed on the original renewal certificate.

(Code 1979, § 7-45; Ord. No. 4505-14, § 1, 2-3-2014)