§ 6-10. 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:

Code inspector means the person officially designated by the town manager to perform the duties described in this article.

Condemn means to determine a structure or dwelling is unfit or unsafe for occupancy.

Dwelling means any building or structure, including any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single unit with facilities, which are intended to be used for living quarters by human occupants.

Dilapidated/dilapidation means structures, dwellings, dwelling units, multiple dwellings, apartments, including garages, sheds, and similar accessory buildings and structures and fences which, by reason of inadequate maintenance or abandonment, are a threat to health and safety, or which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise dangerous to human life or property.

Interested party means a person or entity who has an interest in real estate which is subject to condemnation or demolition proceedings, including the owner of record title, lessees, tenants, or occupants, if any, and any persons of record interest, including mortgagee, contract purchaser, agent with power of attorney, or person claiming an interest under lis pendens or the like.

Lessee means any person who has a possessory interest in any dwelling or structure.

Manmade body of water means, but shall not be limited to, a swimming pool, fish pond, spa or hot tub, but excludes ponds created pursuant to the town, state, federal or regional regulations or by the town for stormwater retention and treatment purposes.

Occupant means any person living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling.

Repair means the replacement of existing work with the same kind of material used in the existing work, not including additional work that would change the structural safety of the building or that affect or change required exit facilities, a vital element or elevator, plumbing, gas piping, wiring or heating installations, or that would be in violation of a provision of law, provision of this Code, or other town ordinance. The term "repair" or "repairs" shall not apply to any change of construction.

Special magistrate means the person or persons designated by the town council who is hereby also given authority to hear appeals as specified in this article.

Structure means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, including garages, sheds, and similar accessory buildings and structures and fences, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. The term "structure" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or part thereof."

Tenant means any person living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling.

Unfit means unsanitary, unsuitable, or improper for the use or occupancy for which it is intended.

Unsafe means structurally unsafe, unstable, inadequately provided with exit facilities, not provided with permanent means of adequately securing all openings against unauthorized entry and deterioration from weather, constituting a fire hazard, constituting a hazard to health or safety due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, abandonment, or otherwise dangerous to life or property or to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants thereof or the surrounding areas.

Unsanitary means, but is not limited to, inadequate or malfunctioning water or plumbing system(s), sanitary facilities, or waste disposal systems, and infestation within or around a structure of insects, rodents, or other pests.

(Ord. No. 2014-03, § 1, 4-22-2014; Ord. No. 2016-01, § 2, 7-12-2016)