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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Revising Housing Regulations, Rental Housing Code, Housing Appeal Board ORDINANCE NO.3379 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA,BY REPEALING SECTIONS 13.3(15), 13.15, 13.17, 13.22, 13.26, 13.28, 13.29, 13.35 AS THEY NOW EXIST AND ENACTING NEW SECTIONS 13.3(15), 13.15, 13.17, 13.22, 13.26, 13.28, 13.29, 13.35, 13.38(4) FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING HOUSING REGULATIONS;REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Subsection 13.3(15)as it now exists and enacting a new Subsection 13.3(15)as follows: " (15) Owner-occupied single-family dwelling: Any townhouse,condominium,or detached dwelling that is occupied as a dwelling by the owner,or owner's relative within the first degree of consanguinity,and may include a nanny,live-in nurse,or live-in exchange student. It is one dwelling unit even if allowed roomers occupy part of the building." Section Two. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.15 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.15 as follows: "Sec.13.15. ORGANIZATION,OFFICERS. Immediately upon appointment, members of the housing appeal board shall organize and select one member as chair and one as vice-chair. The city clerk or clerk's designee shall serve as secretary of the board.The city attorney shall be the attorney for the record. The housing appeal board shall adopt,from time to time,subject to the approval of the city council,such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. (Ord.No. 2603, Sec. 2, 5-24-77; Ord.No. 2817, Sec. 1, 3-22-82)" Section Three. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.17 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.17 as follows: "Sec. 13.17. HEARING. Any aggrieved person may within two(2)weeks of the date of written decision of a housing inspector file a written application for hearing before the housing appeal board. Such application should be made upon forms to be supplied by the city clerk and shall include a copy of the decision appealed,the specific details being appealed,and such other documentary evidence as the appellant desires to bring to the attention of the board. Such application shall be accompanied by a filing fee which shall be returned to an appellant only when the board overrules an erroneous decision or determination of the housing inspector concerning this chapter. The city clerk shall publish notice of the scheduled hearing in a paper of general circulation in Ames at least three(3)days before the hearing date. (Ord.No. 2603, Sec. 2, 5-24-77, Ord. No. 2937, Sec. 1, 10-22-85)" Section Four. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.22 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.22 as follows: "Sec.13.22. CONSTRUCTION. (1) Each dwelling unit shall be reasonably weather tight. All areas of the building shall be structurally sound. (Ord.No. 2603, Sec. 2, 5-24-77) 1 (2) A dwelling unit which is a mobile home shall be secured to the mobile home stand with tiedowns and ground anchors that conform to any of the authorized standards or methods promulgated by authorized officials of the State of Iowa in the Iowa Administrative Code for mobile home anchoring. The frame,wheels,crawl space,storage area,and utility connections of all mobile homes shall be concealed from view by skirting which shall be of a durable all-weather construction which is consistent with the exterior of the mobile home. (Ord. 2825, Sec. 3, 5-25-82) (3) All building related items that are repaired or replaced shall meet the current municipal building code standards." Section Five. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.26 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.26 as follows: "Sec. 13.26. HANDRAILS AND GUARDRAILS. (1) Handrails or guardrails in new rental properties shall meet the standards of the municipal building code. New rental properties are new construction or those existing structures which are being converted to rental properties. (2) Existing properties shall have one safe handrail per stairway, provided that the handrail meets the standards of the building code which was in effect at the time the structure was built." Section Six. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.28 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.28 as follows: "Sec. 13.28. PLUMBING AND HEATING. (1) Water supply and sanitary sewer systems shall be approved public or private systems, and shall not leak and should provide adequate flow. Sewage systems shall be maintained so as to minimize backup. Walls,ceilings,and floors shall be essentially free from evidence of surface,ground, roof or drainage water. (2) Exhaust gases from fuel-burning water and space-heating units shall be adequately vented to not less than two (2) feet above the roof of the building;such units shall be provided an adequate air supply. (3) Gas fired appliances shall not be in or open directly into a bedroom or bathroom, unless the appliance complies with an exception found in the current municipal mechanical code. (4) Every heating unit shall be protected against malfunction with adequate safety devices. (5) Every gas pipe shall be sound,free of leaks or obstructions,and sized to provide an adequate flow of gas. (6) Appliances shall be connected to gas piping with rigid metal or acceptable flexible piping. Where a flexible connector is used,a shut-off valve shall be installed in the rigid metal near the connection. (7) Gang water meters in multiple dwelling units shall be clearly labeled. (8) All clothes dryers shall be vented directly to the outside. (9) Plumbing and mechanical items repaired or replaced shall follow current plumbing and mechanical codes." (Ord.No. 2603, Sec. 2, 5-24-77) Section Seven. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.29 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.29 as follows: "Sec. 13.29. ELECTRICAL. (1) The electrical system of every dwelling unit shall be installed and maintained so as to be reasonably safe to the occupants and the structure. (2) Temporary wiring(extension cords)shall not lie beneath floor coverings,extend through walls,doorways,transoms,or similar apertures;or do other than connect a convenience outlet to portable electrical appliances. Extension cords shall not be overloaded. 2 (3) No operator or tenant shall install or use electrical space cooling or heating equipment unless the owner has installed the equipment or given permission to install and use it. (4) Fuses,or equivalent,shall not exceed the size recommended for each circuit by the Ames Electrical Code. (5) Each habitable space room shall have at least two duplex electrical outlets where an electrical cord may be easily and directly plugged in with a minimum of inconvenience. Additional outlets may be required in those conditions where outlet overuse creates a hazard. (6) Each bathroom shall have at least one duplex electrical outlet where an electrical cord may be easily and directly plugged in with a minimum of inconvenience. Any outlet that is installed or replaced in a bathroom shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter(GFI)protection. (7) Gang electrical meters in multiple dwelling units shall be clearly labeled. (8) Emergency lighting shall be provided in all common hallways and stairways in multiple dwelling units with more than two units,having an intensity of not less than 1 foot candle at floor level. (9) All electrical items shalt comply with the current code when repaired or replaced." (Ord.No. 2603, Sec. 2, 5-24-77; Ord. No. 2778, Sec. 3, 8-13-81; Ord.No. 3022, Sec. 1, 8-23-88) Section Eight. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 13.35 as it now exists and enacting a new Section 13.35 as follows: "Sec. 13.35. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS,FIRE SAFETY. The following are the requirements of the Ames Rental Housing Regulations for fire safety in rental dwelling units: (1) Every dwelling unit shall have at least one exit directly to the outside,or two direct routes of exit to the outside reached by travel in different directions. Routes of exit shall be corridors in common areas kept continually open and accessible,leading directly to exits,one of which may be a window,located remote to one another,that open directly to the outside. (a) Dead end corridors shall not exceed the first twenty(20)feet of route to an exit traveled from any dwelling unit door. (b) A window may be deemed a second means of exit if- (i) It is easily opened and opens directly to the outside of the dwelling; and (ii) The window space serving as such exit shall have an unobstructed height of at least 24 inches,width of at least 20 inches,finished sill height of 44 inches or less; and have an openable area of at least 5.7 square feet;and (iii) If the second exit window is above the second floor,it shall also have an approved exit ladder which allows access to within 8'of grade. (iv) Egress windows below grade shall have a window well as wide as the window and with at least thirty-six(36)inches from the glass to the face of the opposite side of the well. If it is deeper then forty-four(44)inches,it shall have a permanent affixed ladder or steps. (2) Areas used for sleeping purposes in basements or above the second floor shall have constant and unobstructed access to two (2) exits from that floor,one of which may be a window meeting the requirements of(1)(b),above. (3) Interior walls and ceiling finishes or decoration shall not consist of hazardous material,including but not limited to styrofoam,burlap,nylon or parachutes. (4) Buildings shall display a clearly visible,marked street address and dwelling units shall be individually identified by a clearly visible number or letter. (5) Combustible liquid fuels or equipment powered by combustible liquid fuels shall not be stored in dwellings. (6) Exits,routes of exit and corridors shall be kept clear of trash,debris and personal property. A 3'area clear of all trash,debris and personal property shall be maintained around meters, electrical panels,hot water heaters and electrical appliances. (7) Areas which contain furnaces and water heaters shall be clearly labeled with permanent signs stating that no items shall be stored any closer than three(3)feet from appliances. 3 (8) All basements, storage areas, and other nonhabitable areas shall be posted with permanently affixed signs stating `No sleeping unless all applicable codes, includes egress,ceiling height,and distance to furnace room,are met'." (Ord.No. 2825, Sec. 8, 5-25-82; Ord. No. 3022, Sec. 3, 8-23-88; Ord. No. 3063, Sec. 3, 11-14-89) Section Nine. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by enacting a new Subsection 13.38(4)as follows: " (4) Existing items grandfathered by the retroactive conversion permit will be allowed to continue and will be exempt from the new code changes unless those specific areas are remodeled for any reason. If they are remodeled,they shall be brought into compliance with current codes. Those structures with retroactive conversion permits found to have situations which are extreme hazards may have their status re-evaluated. Section Ten. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction punishable as set out in Section 1.9 of the Municipal Code. Section Eleven. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict,if any. Section Twelve. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Passed this 9th day of April , 1996. l �l Sandra L. Ryan,City Cler Larry R. rtis,Mayor 0393 4