Chapter 17, HOUSING CODE

1 City of KalamazooPC/CodeBook for Windows1 Chapter 17, HOUSING code [HISTORY: Adopted by the City Commission of the City of Kalamazoo 10-18-1999 by Ord. Amendments noted where applicable.] GENERAL REFERENCES Authority of HOUSING inspectors to serve summons for code violation -- See 1-8B. Buildings and building regulations -- See Ch. 9. Fire prevention and protection -- See Ch. 15. Garbage and trash -- See Ch. 15A. Historic districts -- See Ch. 16. Discrimination in real estate transactions -- See 18-17 et seq. Nuisances -- See 22-3 et seq.

2 Wastewater discharge regulations and enforcement procedures -- See Ch. 28. Solid waste -- See Ch. 31. Swimming pools -- See Ch. 34. Tax exemption for certain HOUSING projects -- See 35-4. Water -- See Ch. 38. Trees -- See Ch. 42. Zoning Ordinance -- See App. A. STATUTORY REFERENCES HOUSING law -- See MSA et seq.; MCLA et seq. Authority of City to adopt and enforce HOUSING ordinance -- See MSA ; MCLA Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction code Act -- MCLA et seq. ARTICLE I, Administrative Provision 17-1.

3 Title and purpose. A. Title. This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the " HOUSING code of the City ofKalamazoo." B. Purpose. The general purpose of this Chapter is to protect the public health, safety and thegeneral welfare of the people of the City. These general objectives include, among others, thefollowing specific purposes: (1) To protect the character and stability of residential areas within the City. (2) To provide minimum standards for kitchen, heating and sanitary facilities necessary toCity of KalamazooPC/CodeBook for Windows2the health and safety of occupants of buildings.

4 (3) To provide standards for light and ventilation necessary to health and safety. (4) To prevent additions or alterations to existing dwellings that would be injurious to thelife, health, safety or general welfare of the occupants of such dwellings or neighboringproperties. (5) To prevent the overcrowding of dwellings by providing minimum space standards peroccupant of each dwelling unit. (6) To provide minimum standards for the maintenance of existing residential buildings andthus to prevent the spread of slums and blight.

5 (7) To preserve the taxable value of lands and buildings throughout the City. C. Unless otherwise provided by state law, in the event of a conflict between a provision of thischapter and a provision of any national or published code adopted by the City, the provisionsof this Chapter shall control. 17-2. Definitions. [Amended 7-5-2005 by Ord. No. 1785] A. Usage. (1) Scope. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purposes ofthis code , have the meanings shown in this Chapter . (2) Interchangeability.

6 Words stated in the present tense include the future; words stated inthe masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the singular number includes theplural and the plural the singular. (3) Terms defined in other codes. Where terms are not defined in this code and are definedin the building, fire prevention, zoning, plumbing or mechanical codes, ASME NFPA 70, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in those codes. (4) Terms not defined. Where terms are not defined, through the methods authorized by thissection, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies.

7 (5) Parts. Whenever the words "dwelling unit," "dwelling," "premises," "building,""rooming house," "rooming unit," or "story" are stated in this code , they shall beconstrued as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof." B. Terms defined. As used in this Chapter , the following terms shall have the meaningsindicated: City of KalamazooPC/CodeBook for Windows3 ACCESSORY BUILDING -- Any building or structure, not used as a dwelling, which is locatedon the same premises as a dwelling. AGENT (RESPONSIBLE LOCAL) -- See 17-17.

8 APPROVED -- Determined by the City to be in compliance with this Chapter . BASEMENT -- A portion of a building located entirely underground or partly underground(having more than 1/2 its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoiningground). BASIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS -- The parts of a building which provide the principalstrength, stability, integrity, shape and safety, including, but not limited to, plates, studs, joists,rafters, stringers, stairs, subflooring, flooring, sheathing, lathing, roofing, siding, window frames,door frames, porches, railings, eaves, chimneys, flashing, masonry, and all other essentialcomponents.

9 BED-AND-BREAKFAST INN -- An establishment located within a detached house that is theprincipal residence of the operator (or his/her designee), where short-term lodging is offered forcompensation and that includes the service of one or more meals to guests. [Amended 5-18-2009by Ord. No. 1852] BEDROOM -- Any room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes. BOARD or BOARD OF APPEALS -- The HOUSING Board of Appeals established in 17-27. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE -- A document issued by the enforcing agency which statesthat the listed property is in substantial compliance with the requirements of this Chapter .

10 COMMON AREAS -- Those interior and exterior areas normally accessible to all occupants,such as, but not limited to, hallways, stairs, and yards. "Common areas" do not include dwellingunits, exterior or interior areas assigned to specific occupants, such as assigned storage orparking places, or such places as offices or areas from which occupants are generally excluded. CONDEMNED -- Unfit for occupancy. DETERIORATE -- To decay, decompose, or degenerate. DETERIORATION or DETERIORATED -- The fact or process of decay, infestation, rotting,decomposition, or degeneration which has progressed to the point where it has resulted in or willsoon result in making an object or mechanism unsafe, unsanitary, inoperable, unusable, orunsuitable for its intended use, including, but not limited to, the advanced stage of rot, rust,mold, insect ingestion, infestation, or destruction.