For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(a)   Building. Any structure, whether public or private, that is adapted for occupancy as a residence, the transaction of business, the rendering of professional services, amusement, the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise or the performance of work or labor, including office buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants, workshops and all other houses, sheds and other structures on the premises used for business purposes.

(b)   Occupant. The person that has the use of, controls or occupies any business building or any portion thereof, whether owner or tenant. In the case of vacant business buildings or any vacant portion of a business building, the owner, agent or other person having custody of the building shall have the responsibilities of an occupant of a building.

(c)   Owner. The owner of any building or structure, whether individual, firm, partnership or corporation.

(d)   Rat-harborage. Any condition which provides shelter or protection for rats, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside a structure of any kind.

(e)   Rat-stoppage. A form of rat-proofing to prevent the ingress of rats into buildings from the exterior or from one building to another. It consists essentially of the closing of all 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 by burrowing, with material or equipment impervious to rat-gnawing.

(Code 1988)

All buildings and structures located within the present or future boundaries of the city shall be rat-stopped, freed of rats and maintained in a rat-stopped and rat-free condition.

(Code 1988)

Upon the receipt of written notice from the health officer, the owner of any building or structure specified therein shall take immediate measures for the rat-stoppage of such building or structure and the work shall be completed in the time specified in the written notice or within the time of any written extension thereof as may be granted by the board of health. If the owner fails to comply with such written notice or extension, then the chief of police is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to completely rat-stop the building or structure at the expense of the owner. The expense thereof shall include the cost of labor, materials, equipment and any other expense necessary for rat-stoppage.

(Code 1988)

It shall be unlawful for any occupant, owner, contractor, public utility company, plumber or any other person to remove the rat-stoppage from any building or structure for any purpose and fail to restore the same in a satisfactory condition or to make any new openings that are not closed or sealed against the entrance of rats.

(Code 1988)

Whenever the health officer notifies in writing the occupant and/or owner of any building, structure or other real property that there is evidence of rat infestation of the buildings or structures, the occupant shall immediately institute appropriate measures for freeing the premises so occupied of all rats.

(Code 1988)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate any garbage or trash in any building or premises so that the same shall afford food or harborage for rats. It shall be unlawful for any person to accumulate or to permit the accumulation on any premises and on any open lot any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones or similar materials that may be permitted to remain thereon and which are rat harborages.

(Code 1988)