§ 18-96. Standards for determination by public officer.

The public officer may determine that a dwelling, building, structure, or property is unfit for human habitation or is unfit for its current commercial, industrial or business use and not in compliance with applicable codes; is vacant and being used in connection with the commission of drug crimes; or constitutes an endangerment to the public health or safety as a result of unsanitary or unsafe conditions if he finds that conditions exist in or on such building, dwelling, structure, or property which are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of other residents. Such conditions may include without limitation:

(1)

Dilapidation and noncompliance with applicable codes;

(2)

Defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents, or other calamities;

(3)

Lack of adequate ventilation, light, or sanitary facilities;

(4)

Other conditions exist rendering such dwellings, buildings, structures, or property unsafe or unsanitary, or dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare, or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of such municipality such as:

a.

Disrepair, structural defects or uncleanliness;

b.

The interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle so that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity of the structural members falls outside of its base so as to create a hazardous condition to the occupants of the structure or the population of the surrounding area;

c.

Due to their unsafe condition the supporting structure and/or nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls must be replaced;

d.

The floors or roofs have improperly distributed loads or oversized loads or are so weakened as to be unsafe for their present or intended use;

e.

The structure has been damaged by wind, fire or other causes so as to imperil the safety or the health of the structure's occupants or of the people of the city;

f.

There are abandoned wells, shafts, basements or excavations, abandoned refrigerators or motor vehicles, or any structurally unsound fences or any lumber, trash, fences, debris or vegetation, or any condition which may cause lack of safe ingress or egress to the structure(s).

(5)

Vacant dwellings, buildings, or structures in which drug crimes are being committed;

(6)

There exists an endangerment to the public health or safety as a result of unsanitary or unsafe conditions to those persons residing or working in the vicinity.

(Amend. of 6-12-2007, § 1)

State law reference

Similar provisions, O.C.G.A. § 41-2-7, 41-2-10.