ORDINANCE
NO. 839
AN
ORDINANCE OF THE
ADOPTING
THE USE OF POST-DISASTER SAFETY ASSESSMENT PLACARDS
The
Board of Supervisors of the
SECTION 1.
PURPOSE.
It
is the purpose of this ordinance to establish standard placards to be used to
indicate the condition of a building or structure for continued occupancy after
any natural or manmade disaster. The ordinance further authorizes the Building
Official and his or her authorized representatives to post the appropriate
placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a
safety assessment.
SECTION 2.
“SAFETY ASSESSMENT” DEFINED.
“Safety assessment” shall mean a visual, non-destructive examination
of a building or structure for the purpose of determining the condition for
continued occupancy following a natural or manmade disaster.
SECTION 3.
APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS.
The
provisions of this ordinance are applicable, following each natural or manmade
disaster, to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the
SECTION 4.
PLACARDS.
A. The official County placards shall
indicate one of the following three conditions for continued occupancy of
buildings or structures:
1. “INSPECTED
- Lawful Occupancy Permitted”
The placard describing this condition is to be posted
on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been
found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the
building or structure. Occupants should
always be cautious of potential hazards following any natural or manmade
disaster.
2. “RESTRICTED
USE - Off Limits to Unauthorized Personnel”
The placard describing this condition is to be posted
on each building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has
resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual
who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered
and will clearly and concisely note the restrictions on continued occupancy.
3. “UNSAFE
- Do Not Enter or Occupy”
The placard describing this condition is to be posted
on each building or structure that has been damaged such that continued
occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Buildings or structures posted with
this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized
in writing by the Building Official, or his or her authorized representative.
Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any
time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The
individual who posts this placard will note in general term the type of damage
encountered.
B. In addition to the above descriptive
conditions, each placard shall also contain the
C. Once the placard has been attached to a
building or structure, a placard is not to be removed, altered or covered until
done so by an authorized representative of the Building Official or upon
written notification from the
SECTION 5.
VIOLATIONS.
It
shall be unlawful for any person, group, firm, or corporation to remove, alter,
deface or cover any County official placard until done so by an authorized
representative of the Building Official or upon written notification from the
Any
person, group, firm or corporation violating any provisions or failing to
comply with any of the requirements of this ordinance shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a
misdemeanor under the ordinances of
SECTION 6.
SEVERABILITY.
If
any portion, provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this Ordinance
is rendered or declared to be invalid by any final court action in a court of
competent jurisdiction, or by reason of any preemptive legislation, the
remaining portions, provisions, sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words of
this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect and shall be interpreted
by the court so as to give effect to such remaining portions of the Ordinance.
SECTION 7.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
The
provisions of this Ordinance shall take effect 30 days following its
adoption.
Adopted: 839 Item 3.17 of 06/14/2005 (Eff: 07/13/2005)