0362 (Dwelling Occupancy)ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STANDARDS
GOVERNING THE USE, OCCUPANCY AND MAINTENANCE OF
DWELLINGS, DWELLING UNITS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES;
ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STANDARDS GOVERNING SUPPLIED
UTILITIES AND FACILITIES, AND OTHER PHYSICAL THINGS
AND CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO MAKE DWELLINGS SAFE,
SANITARY, AND FIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION; ESTABLISHING
MINIMUM STANDARDS GOVERNING THE CONDITION AND MAIN-
TENANCE OF DWELLINGS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES; FIXING
CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITES AND DUTIES OF OWNERS AND
OCCUPANTS OF DWELLINGS; CREATING A HOUSING BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS AND FIXING THE DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITES THEREOF; AUTHORIZING THE INSPECTION
OF DWELLINGS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND PROVIDING
FOR THE CONDEMNATION OF ALL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
DEEMED UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION AND USE; AND FIXING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA:
Whereas, within the area of jurisdiction of the City of
Okeechobee, Florida there are or may be dwellings, dwelling units
and accessory structures which are unfit for human habitation and
use due to inadequate maintenance, obsolescence or abandonment; con-
taining defects which increase the hazards of fire, accident, or
other calamities, and which by reason of the lack of maintenance,
inadequate ventilation, light and sanitary facilites or other con-
ditions render such dwellings and accessory structures unsafe, un-
sanitary and dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety, morals,
and general welfare of the community; and,
Whereas, experience and accepted national housing surveys have
clearly demonstrated that such conditions result in a large measure
from improper maintenance, inadequate sanitary facilities, over-
crowded conditions in residential occupancies, buildings and premises
and from general neighborhood neglect; and,
Whereas, it has now become common knowledge that these conditions
can be relieved, in a measure prevented and often eliminated through
planned and properly enforced minimum housing standards, resulting
thereby in the upgrading of living conditions and an over -all
enhancement of the general health, safety and welfare of all
residents and property owners of the community; and,
Whereas, the Southern Building Code Congress, a non - profit
association, has developed and made available a set of minimum
housing standards which have been recognized as being acceptable
as a model housing code; and,
Whereas, Chapter 165, Section 165.191 of the General Statutes
of the State of Florida provides that such model codes may be
adopted be reference;
Now, Therefore Be It Enacted, That,
Section 1. The Southern Standard Housing Code, being particu-
larly the 1969 edition thereof and the whole thereof, save and
except such portions as may hereinafter be amended, of which not
less than three (3) copies have been and are now filed in the office
of the City Clerk of the City of Okeechobee, Florida and the same
are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set forth at
length herein, and from the datedaon which this ordinance shall take
effect, the provisions therein shall be controlling in the use,
maintenance and occupancy of all dwellings, dwelling units and /or
structures within the area of jurisdiction of the City of Okeechobee,
Florida.
Section 2. Nothing in this ordinance or in the code hereby
adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding now
pending in any court, or any rights acquired or liability incurred,
nor any cause or causes of action accrued or existing, under any
act or ordinance repealed hereby. Nor shall any right or remedy
of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance.
Section 3. The invalidity of any section or provision of this
ordinance or of the code hereby adopted shall not invalidate other
sections or provisions thereof.
Section 4. All ordinance or parts of ordinances in force at
the time that this ordinance shall take effect and inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect immediately
upon passage, the welfare of the City of Okeechobee, Florida,
requiring it.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of September, 1972.
ATTEST:
t
City Cler
President of City Council
APPROVED by me this 12th day of September, 1972.
4014001A----
Mayor, CV-by of Okeechobee