§ 6-1-5. Unsafe structures.

(a)

All structures not exempt hereinbelow shall meet minimum maintenance standards and shall not become unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or dangerous.

(1)

An "unsafe" structure is a structure that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the structure by:

a.

Being so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe, unmaintained or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that partial or complete collapse is possible or provides a health or safety concern, or;

b.

If the structure is a dwelling intended for human habitation, lacking the minimum safeguards set forth in the technical codes adopted by Greenwood County to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire.

(2)

A structure "unfit for human occupancy" is a structure that is a dwelling intended for human habitation and is:

a.

Unsafe as defined hereinabove;

b.

Unsanitary due to disrepair or lack of maintenance;

c.

Infested by vermin or rats;

d.

Containing filth or contamination;

e.

lacking ventilation, illumination, sanitary or heating facilities or other essential equipment required by the technical codes adopted by Greenwood County, or;

f.

Otherwise unlawful.

(3)

A "dangerous" structure is a structure that:

a.

Has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, deterioration, neglect, abandonment, vandalism or other cause to such an extent that it is likely to partially or completely collapse or have a portion become detached or dislodged or provides a health or safety concern;

b.

Remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of another portion of the same structure, or;

c.

Has been abandoned so as to constitute such structure as an attractive nuisance or hazard to the public.

(b)

Agricultural buildings designed for farming and agricultural practices, including but not limited to barns, sheds and storage buildings, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

(c)

Pools, walls, fences and other accessory structures shall be considered a structure.

(d)

The county code enforcement office shall be the administrative or enforcement official for the provisions of this section.

(e)

When a structure is found by the county code enforcement office to be unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, dangerous or otherwise unlawful, such structure shall be subject to the following provisions.

(1)

The owner of a structure found by the county code enforcement officer to be unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, dangerous or otherwise unlawful shall abate or correct, or cause to be abated or corrected, such unsafe conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action.

(2)

If a structure is dangerous by way of having been abandoned and becoming vacant, and is not in danger of collapse, the county code enforcement office is authorized to order the structure closed up so as not to be an attractive nuisance or hazard to the public. Upon failure of the owner of the structure to close up the structure within the time specified in the order, the county code enforcement officer shall cause the premises to be closed and secured through any available public agency or by contract or arrangement by private persons and the cost thereof shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate and may be collected by any other legal resource.

(3)

If construction of a structure has ceased and a building permit has not been issued or renewed within 180 days from initial notice, the county code enforcement officer may require the owner of the structure to bring the structure into conformance with the provisions of this chapter and the International Building Code or require the demolition of the structure. Two 90-day extensions may be provided if the owner of the structure can show that he or she is actively working towards on-site compliance with these standards. Further extensions may be granted by the Greenwood County Board of Zoning Appeals.

(4)

Where repair of a structure found by the county code enforcement office to be unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, dangerous or otherwise unlawful is unreasonable or impossible, the said officer may order the owner of the structure to board up the structure and hold for future repair or to demolish and remove the structure, at the owners' option. Boarding the building up for future repair shall not extend beyond one year unless approved by the county code enforcement officer.

(5)

Where there has been a cessation of construction or repair of more than two years, the county code enforcement officer shall order the owner to demolish and remove such structure, or board up the structure until future repair.

(6)

If the owner of a premises fails to comply with a demolition order within the time prescribed by the county code enforcement officer, the said officer shall cause the structure to be demolished and removed, either through an available public agency or by contract or arrangement with private persons, and the cost of such demolition and removal shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate.

(7)

The county code enforcement office shall be entitled to issue an ordinance summons pursuant to the provisions of section 7-1-6 of the Greenwood County Code to enforce the provisions of this section.

( Ord. No. 2013-12 , § 1, 7-16-13; Ord. No. 2015-09 , § 1, 8-18-15)