Sections 7-2-101 to 199, inclusive. Rat eradication - general provisions.
Section 7-2-101. Definitions.
A. The term "Business building" shall mean any structure, either public or private, that is adapted for occupancy for transaction of business, rendering of professional services, amusement, the display, sale or storage of goods, wares, or merchandise or for the performance of work or labor, including, but not being limited in its application to hotels, theatres, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, work shops, factories, and all outbuildings, sheds, barns, and other structures on premises used for business purposes.
B. The term "Rat-proofing" shall mean a form of rat-proofing to prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings, from the exterior or from one business building to another. It consists essentially of the closing with material impervious to rat gnawing, of all openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, and foundations that may be reached by rats from the ground by climbing or burrowing.
C. The term "Rat harborage" shall mean a condition which provides shelter or protection for rats favoring their multiplication and continuous existence in, under, or outside of a structure of any kind.
D. The term "Health officer" shall mean the city health officer or sanitary officer or inspector of the city or his duly authorized representative.
E. The term "Owner" shall mean the actual owner of the business building, either individual, partnership or corporation, the agent of the owner in charge of said building, the person having custody of said building, and the person to whom any rental upon said building is paid. In the case of business buildings leased under agreement that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee will in such cases also be considered as the "owner" for the purpose of this chapter.
F. The term "Occupant" shall mean the individual or partnership who, or the corporation that, has the use of or occupies any business building, or a part or portion thereof, whether the actual owner, tenant or sub-tenant. In the case of vacant buildings, or any vacant portion of the business building, the owner, agent, or other person having custody of said building shall have the responsibility of an "occupant" of said building.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0401.
Section 7-2-102. Rat-proofing required of all business buildings - supervision of city health officer.
It is hereby provided and required that all business buildings in the city shall be rat-proofed, free of rats, and maintained in a rat-proof and rat-free condition, under the direction and supervision of the health officer.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0402.
Section 7-2-103. Business buildings to be maintained in rat-proof condition.
The occupants of all rat-proofed business buildings are required to maintain the premises in a rat-proof condition and to repair all breaks and leaks that may occur in the rat-proofing.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0405.
Section 7-2-104. Unlawful to remove rat-proofing or to fail to rat-proof new openings.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, occupant, or any other person to remove the rat-proofing from any business building for any purpose and fail to promptly restore the same in a satisfactory condition; and, in like manner it shall be unlawful for any person to make any new openings that are not sealed or closed against the entrance of rats.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0408.
Section 7-2-105. Authority of city health officer to make inspections - order to abate violations.
The health officer is empowered to make unannounced inspections of both the interior and exterior of business buildings with the city as in his opinion may be necessary to determine whether there has been full compliance with this chapter and to require the same. If at the time of any such inspection, the health officer finds evidence of rat-infestation or the existence of breaks or leaks in the rat-proofing, he shall serve upon the owner or occupant of said building a notice or order to abate the conditions found.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0406.
Section 7-2-106. Duty of building owner to rat-proof buildings within time specified by city health officer - extension of time - violations.
Upon receipt of written notice or order from the health officer or city police, the owner of any building specified in said notice or order shall take immediate steps for the rat-proofing of said building. Unless said work and improvements required for such rat-proofing have been completed by the owner of said building in the time specified in said written notice or order or within the time to which a written extension may have been granted by the health officer, the owner shall be deemed to have violated a provision of this chapter.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0403.
Section 7-2-107. Duty of building occupant to free premises of rats - authority of city health officer to do so upon failure or refusal of occupant.
Whenever the health officer notifies the occupant of a business building that there is evidence of rat infestation of said building, the occupant shall immediately institute steps for freeing the premises of all rats. Unless suitable measures for freeing said building of rats are instituted within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, and unless continuously maintained in a reasonable manner until said building is free from rats, the health officer is hereby authorized and directed to free said building of rats and to create a lien against the property to cover the charge for labor, materials and equipment necessary for the eradication measures employed.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0404.
Section 7-2-108. Duty of building owner to eliminate rat harborages- authority of city health officer to require alterations.
Whenever conditions inside or under business buildings provide such extensive harborage of rats that the health officer deems it necessary to eliminate such harborage, he may require the owner to install suitable cement floors in the basement or to replace wooden first floors or ground floors or require the owner to correct such other interior rat harborage as may be necessary in order to facilitate the eradication of rats in a reasonable length of time.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0407.
Section 7-2-109. All food and feed required to be kept and under rat-free conditions.
All food and feed kept within the city for feeding poultry, cattle, swine, horses, or other animals shall be kept and stored in rat-free and rat-proof containers, compartments or rooms unless kept in a rat-proof building.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0409.
Section 7-2-110. All refuse required to be kept and stored under rat-free conditions.
All refuse within the city consisting of waste, animal or vegetable matter upon which rats may feed, and all small dead animals shall be placed and stored in covered containers until collected by the refuse department. It is hereby declared to be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm, or corporation to dump or place on any premises any dead animals or any waste, vegetable or animal matter of any kind.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0410, Rev. of Ord., 1990.
Section 7-2-111. Unlawful to accumulate building or other materials other than temporarily unless properly elevated and stacked to prevent rat harborage.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to permit to accumulate upon any premises, whether improved or vacant, or upon any open lots or alley in the city, any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones or any other materials that may be permitted to remain thereon for any longer time than a temporary period reasonably required for the use of such materials in the building or repairing of property, unless same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than eighteen (18) inches above ground, and evenly piled or stacked so that such material will not afford harborage for rats.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0412.
Section 7-2-112. Unlawful to accumulate refuse in manner which might provide rat harborage.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to place, leave, dump, or permit the accumulation of any refuse in any building or upon any premises in the city so that the same shall or may provide food or harborage for rats.
Source: R.O. Pierre, 1957, 7.0411.
Sections 7-2-113 to 199, inclusive. Reserved.