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Footnotes:
--- (2) --- Cross reference— Animals generally, ch. 6.
Sec. 13-106. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Building means any structure, whether public or private, that is adopted for occupancy, for transaction of business, for rendering of professional services, for amusement, for the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise, or for the performance of work or labor, including hotels, apartment buildings, tenement houses, roominghouses, office buildings, public buildings, stores, theatres, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops, factories, all outhouses, sheds, barns and other structures on premises used for this purpose.
Occupant means the person that has the use of or occupies any business building, or a part or fraction thereof, whether the actual owner or tenant. In the case of a vacant business building or any vacant portion of a business building, the owner, agent or other person having custody of the building shall have the responsibility of an occupant of a building.
Owner means the actual owner of the business building, whether individual, partnership or corporation, or the agent of the building, or other person having custody of the building to whom the rent is paid. In the case of a building leased with a clause in the lease specifying that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee will be considered in such case as the owner for the purpose of this article.
Rat eradication means the elimination or the extermination of the rats in a building by any of the accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation, trapping, clubbing, etc., such that the building is completely freed of rats or there is no evidence of rat infestation remaining.
Rat harborage means any condition which provides shelter or protection for rats, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind.
Ratproofing means a form of construction to prevent the ingress of rats in the building from the exterior, or from one building or establishment to another. It consists essentially of treating all actual or potential openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roofs and foundations, that may be reached by rats from the ground by climbing or burrowing, with material impervious to rat gnawing. Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 13-107. - Maintenance of vermin or rat infested premises.#
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises within the town to maintain such premises in a vermin or rat infested condition, or permit such premises to become infested with vermin or rodents.
(Code 1972, § 9-10)
Sec. 13-108. - Ratproofing of buildings required.#
No building or structure shall be erected, repaired, altered or extended, unless provision is made for ratproofing such structure.
(Code 1972, § 9-11)
Sec. 13-109. - Inspection of premises; enforced removal of prohibited conditions.#
(a)
It shall be the duty of the health officer to cause an inspection of any premises in the town which he has good reason to believe is not in a ratproof condition.
(b)
If such premises are found to be vermin or rat infested, a notice, in writing, bearing the date of issue and signed by the health officer or his duly authorized representative shall be served upon such owner or occupant. Such notice shall state the condition of such premises and the required correction.
(c)
Any such notice may be served by an employee of the board of health or any police officer, or may be served by depositing the notice enclosed in a postpaid envelope addressed to the person to be notified in the post office of the town.
(d)
After the owner or occupant of any such premises has been so notified by the health officer or his duly authorized representative that such premises are vermin or rat infested, it shall be the duty of such owner or occupant to take immediate measure to remedy such condition.
(Code 1972, § 9-12)
Sec. 13-110. - Unauthorized removal of or interference with ratproofing.#
No person shall remove, damage or destroy any part of any building or other appurtenances of improved real estate premises intended to protect such premises against the ingress of rats, or in any other way create a condition by which ingress of rats is made possible; provided, however, that this section shall not apply where the interference with ratproofing is made necessary in connection with lawful construction promptly restored.
(Code 1972, § 9-13)
Sec. 13-111. - Deposits and accumulation of rat harboring substances.#
No person shall throw, place or deposit or permit any person under his control or employment to throw, place or deposit any putrid substance, night soil, filth of any kind, garbage, rubbish, refuse piles, old lumber or other rat harborage or any unwholesome material upon any vacant lot, alley, lane, sidewalk or street, canal, lake or river, or upon any private lot or public ground within the town, without the consent of the health officer.
(Code 1972, § 9-14)