Combined Code_NOV2017

(Ord. of 4-4-78, § 4) Sec. 18-150. Procedure for enforcement. (a)

Preliminary investigation; notice; hearing. Whenever a petition is filed with the code enforcement officer by at least five residents of the town charging that any structure exists in violation of this division or whenever it appears to the code enforcement officer, upon inspection, that any structure exists in violation hereof, he shall, if his preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such structure a complaint stating the charges and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the code enforcement officer at a place therein fixed, not less than ten nor more than 30 days after the serving of the complaint. The owner or any party in interest shall have the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint. Notice of such hearing shall also be given to at least one of the persons signing a petition relating to such structure. Any person desiring to do so may attend such hearing and give evidence relevant to the matter being heard. The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the code enforcement officer. (b) Procedure after hearing. If, after notice and hearing, the code enforcement officer determines that the structure under consideration is an abandoned structure and in violation of this article in accordance with the standards herein set forth, he or she shall record at the Wake County Register of Deed a Lis Pendens and shall state in writing his findings of fact in support of such determination, stating whether said abandoned structure is deteriorated or dilapidated, and shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner thereof an order: 1) If the repair to correct unsafe conditions of said abandoned structure bringing it up to the standards described in the North Carolina State Building Code can be made at a reasonable cost in relation to the present value of the structure, the order shall require the owner, within a specified period of time, to repair such a structure so as to render it in compliance with the order of the code enforcement officer. Such order may also direct and require the owner to vacate and close the structure until the repairs have been made and/or the unsafe and dangerous character of such structure has been corrected. 2) If the repair of said abandoned structure bringing it up to the standards described in the North Carolina State Building Code cannot be made at a reasonable cost of the present value of the structure, the order shall require the owner, within a specified period of time either to repair such structure so as to bring it into compliance with the standards described in the North Carolina State Building Code or to demolish and remove such structure.

__________ * __________ (c)

State Law References: Authority for above section, G.S. § 160A-443.

If the owner fails to comply with an order to repair the structure, the code

enforcement officer may:

1) Cause such structure to be repaired, and pending such repairs, may

order such structure vacated and closed.

CD18:29

Supp. No. 9