§ 13-161. 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 indicated a different meaning:

Business building means any structure, whether public or private, that is used for transaction of business, or rendering professional service for amusement, for the display, or sale or storage of goods, wares, merchandise, articles or equipment, including hotels, apartment houses, roominghouses, office buildings, public buildings, stores, theatres, markets, restaurants, grain processors, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops, garages; also outhouses, sheds, barns and other structures on premises used for business purposes.

Food means human food, grain and other food for animals and fowl.

Occupant means the individual, partnership, or corporation that uses or occupies any building, or a part thereof, whether the actual owner or tenant. In the case of a vacant building or any portion of a building, the owner, agent or other person having custody of the building shall have the responsibilities of an occupant of the building.

Owner means the actual owner of a building whether an individual, partnership or corporation and includes also the agents for building or other person having custody or managerial control. In the case of business buildings leased or rented with a clause in the contract specifying that the lessee or tenant is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee or tenant will be considered the owner.

Rat control means block sanitation, distribution of rat poison or the setting of rat traps or such other methods as may be approved by the director to control the rat population.

Rat harborage means any condition under which rats may find shelter or protection, and shall include any construction or condition which permits the entrance of rats into any business building.

Ratproofing means a form of ratproofing which will prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings through the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roofs, sidewalk gratings, sidewalk openings, foundations and other places that may be reached and entered by rats by climbing, burrowing or otherwise. The material to be used for ratproofing shall include cement concrete, brick masonry laid in cement concrete mortar, sheet metal, twenty-four or twenty-six gauge wire cloth of not less than nineteen-gauge having a mesh not larger than one-half (½) inch. All materials for rat-proofing shall be of such strength and thickness as to be impervious to rat-gnawing. Windows and other openings for light or ventilation that may be reached or entered by rats shall be covered with wire cloth screen incorporated in a metal frame conforming to the above gauge and dimensions. All exterior doors shall be protected against the gnawing of rats by the use of materials prescribed above. When closed, all exterior doors shall have a maximum clearance between doors, door sills and jambs of not exceeding three-eighths ( 3/8 ) of an inch.

(Code 1976, § 12-10001; Ord. No. 91-02, § 1, 1-8-91)