Sec. 15-23. Same—Inspection of buildings; orders to remedy
conditions.
The health officer of the city is authorized to make, or cause
to be made, inspections of existing buildings and other structures
to determine the prevalence of rats and, if necessary for
the protection of the public health, he may order the following
things to be done:
(1) The vent stoppage of any rat-infested building or other
structure.
(2) The elimination of rat harborages.
(3) The protection of food and garbage from rats.
(4) The extermination of rats on the premises.
For the purpose of this section, "vent stoppage" shall mean
the closure of openings, providing entry by rats, with a material
that is impervious to rat gnawing.
The phrase "elimination of rat harborages" shall mean the
effective application of such measures as the following:
Whenever an accumulation of rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap
metal, car bodies or any other materials provide rat harborage,
the person owning or in control of such materials shall
cause the materials to be removed or the materials shall be
stored so as to eliminate the rat harborage. Lumber, boxes
and similar materials shall be neatly piled. The piles shall
be raised at least a foot above the ground. When the owner
of the material cannot be found after a reasonable search,
the owner or manager of the premises on which the material
is stored shall be responsible for the disposal or proper
piling of the material. (Code 1959, § 15-23.)
