§ 18.14.010. Administration.

A.

Title. The regulations in this Chapter shall be known as the Property Maintenance Code of Monterey County.

B.

Scope. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all existing residential and nonresidential structures and all existing premises and constitute minimum requirements and standards for premises, structures, equipment and facilities for light, ventilation, space, heating, sanitation, protection from the elements, life safety, safety from fire and other hazards, and for safe and sanitary maintenance; the responsibility of owners, operators and occupants; the occupancy of existing structures and premises, and for administration, enforcement and penalties.

C.

Intent. This Chapter shall be construed to secure its expressed intent, which is to ensure public health, safety and welfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures and premises. Existing structures and premises that do not comply with these provisions shall be altered or repaired to provide a minimum level of health and safety as required herein.

D.

Severability. If a section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Chapter is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Chapter.

E.

Resolving Conflicting Provisions. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall govern. Where differences occur between provisions of this Chapter and the referenced standards or when in a specific case, different sections of this Chapter specify different requirements, the most restrictive shall govern.

F.

Maintenance. Equipment, systems, devices and safeguards required by this Chapter or a previous regulation or code under which the structure or premises was constructed, altered or repaired shall be maintained in good working order. The requirements of this Chapter are not intended to provide the basis for removal or abrogation of fire protection and safety systems and devices in existing structures. Except as otherwise specified herein, the owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings, structures, equipment and premises.

G.

Application of Other Codes. Repairs, additions or alterations to a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the California Building Standards Code as amended by the County of Monterey.

H.

Existing Remedies. The provisions in this Chapter shall not be construed to abolish or impair existing remedies of the County of Monterey or its officers or agencies relating to the removal or demolition of any structure which is dangerous, unsafe and unsanitary.

I.

Workmanship. Repairs, maintenance work, alterations or installations which are caused directly or indirectly by the enforcement of this Chapter shall be executed and installed in a workmanlike manner and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.

J.

Historic Buildings. The provisions of this Chapter for existing buildings or structures designated as historic buildings shall also conform to Chapter 18.25 of the Monterey County Code for provisions related to the abatement of dangerous buildings and application of the California Building Standards Code.

K.

Referenced Codes and Standards. The codes and standards referenced in this Chapter shall be those that are listed in Chapter 18.01 Building Standards Administrative Code of the Monterey County Code.

L.

Requirements Not Covered by Code. Requirements necessary for the strength, stability or proper operation of an existing fixture, structure or equipment, or for the public safety, health and general welfare, not specifically covered by this Chapter, shall be determined by the Building Official. The Building Official may use generally accepted construction standards applicable at the time of original construction for buildings constructed prior to permit requirements or adoption of local building standards. These standards may include editions of model codes published at the time of original construction.

M.

Application of References. References to Chapter or Section numbers, or to provisions not specifically identified by number, shall be construed to refer to such Chapter, Section or provision of this Chapter.

N.

Other Laws. The provisions of this Chapter shall not be deemed to nullify any provisions of local, State or Federal law.

(Ord. No. 5286, § 17, 4-18-2017)