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ORDINANCE No. 17,053
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8
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OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK. REV. CODE
4 (1988) CONCERNING HOUSING CODE
PROVISIONS, AND FOR OTHER
5 PURPOSES.
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7 WHEREAS, the Rental Inspection Task Force has met on
8 numerous occasions to review and discuss the current provisions
9 of the housing code, codified in Chapter 8 of the Little Rock,
Ark. Rev. Code (1988) ( "LRC "), as such provisions relate to
10 existing conditions in dwelling units in the City; and
11 WHEREAS, the Task Force has developed the following set of
12 amendments to the housing code which are recommended for
13, adoption by the Little Rock Board of Directors in order to
14 clarify standards of code compliance for all dwelling units in
the City; and
15 WHEREAS, such amendments are appropriate and necessary for
16 the health, safety and welfare of our citizens.
17 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
18 THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1: LRC Sec. 8 -358 is amended by changing the title
19 of the section from °Hardships" to °Appeal rights".
20 LRC Sec. 8 -358 is further amended by lettering the existing
21 subsection (a) and adding an additional subsection (b) to read
22 as follows:
23 (b) Life safety violations are not subject to
the appeal process established in the preceding
24 paragraph. Failure to correct life safety
25 violations 'within the time specified by the
26 building official shall be directed to municipal
27 court.
28 SECTION 2. LRC Sec. 8 -403 is amended by deleting only the
last sentence of subsection (e) and inserting the following
29 language therefor:
30 Shut -off valves are required on gas risers
31 when an appliance'is connected to the riser. All
32 gas risers are required to be properly capped or
33 plugged when not connected to an appliance.
SECTION 3: LRC Sec. 8 -404 (a) is amended by deleting only
34 the last sentence of the subsection which reads "In
35 owner- occupied dwellings, the owner may apply for an exemption
36 from the provisions of this subsection.
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Furthermore, LRC Sec. 8 -404 (d) (1) is deleted in its
entirety and the following language shall be substituted
therefor:
(d) Electric lights and outlets.
(1) Every dwelling unit shall be wired for
electric lights and convenience receptacles.
Every habitable room of such dwelling shall
contain at least two (2) duplex floor or wall
type electric outlets. Every kitchen, bathroom,
bedroom, laundry room, furnace room, corridor,
hallway and porch shall contain at least one (1)
supplied ceiling or wall type electric light
fixture with approved wall switch. Every bathroom
shall be equipped with one (1) ceiling or wall
type electric light fixture with approved wall
switch. Every bathroom shall also contain one (1)
outlet capable of being connected for use at the
lavatory without an extension device. Every such
outlet and fixture shall be properly installed
and maintained in good working condition and
shall be connected to the source of electric
power in a safe manner.
SECTION 4: LRC Sec. 8 -406 is amended by deleting only the
last sentence of subsections (a), (b) and (c) which reads:
"In owner - occupied dwellings, the owner may apply
for an exemption from the provisions of this
subsection."
SECTION 5: LRC Sec. 8 -426 is deleted in its entirety
the following language shall be substituted therefor:
Sec. 8 -426. Protective Railings.
(a) Steps, porches and landings above fifty -four
(54) inches from ground level of all dwelling
units and structures shall provide properly
constructed banisters and handrails. Existing
handrails and banisters on steps, porches and
landings which are less than fifty -four (54)
inches from ground level shall be properly
constructed and maintained, or they may be
removed at the option of the owner.
SECTION 6. LRC Sec. 8 -431 is deleted in its entirety
the following language shall be substituted therefor:
Sec. 8 -431. Screens.
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1 (a) Every window opening to outdoor space shall
2 have the lower half of the sash screened. All
screens shall be properly constructed and
3 installed in frames.
4 (b) Dwelling units equipped with central
5 mechanical ventilation for the entire dwelling
6 are not required to have screens on window
7 openings.
8 (c) Any room of a dwelling unit having a properly
installed and operating window -type air
9 conditioning unit is not required to have screens
10 on window openings.
11 SECTION 7. LRC Sec. 8 -431 (c) is hereby deleted in its
12 entirety to remove the owner- occupied exemption.
SECTION 8. LRC Sec. 8 -432 is amended by adding a new
13 subsection (b) to read as follows:
14 (b) Each side or elevation of a structure shall
15 be inspected independently of the other sides to
16 determine if painting or a protective treatment
17 is required. The following percentages shall be
based upon the areas of the side or elevation
18 where wood or primer coat is exposed:
19 (1) zero to fifteen percent (0 -15 %) of the square
20 feet of the paintable surface -- painting or
21 other protective treatment shall not be required.
22 (2) sixteen to thirty -five percent (16 -35 %) of
the square feet of the paintable surface -- spot
23 painting or protective treatment of only the
24 exposed area shall be required.
25 (3) thirty -six percent (36 %) or greater of the
26 square feet of the paintable surface -- painting
27 or protective treatment of the entire side or
elevation shall be required.
28 (4) Painting or protective treatment shall be
29 required on all new wood.
30 The existing subsection (b) of Sec. 8 -432 shall be
31 re- lettered (c) and shall remain unchanged.
32 SECTION 9. LRC Sec. 8 -435 is amended by deleting the last
sentence which reads:
33 "In owner - occupied dwellings, the owner may apply
34 for an exemption from the provisions of this
35 section."
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SECTION 10. LRC Sec. 8 -583 is hereby amended by deleting
subsection (e) in its entirety and substituting the following
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language therefor:
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(e) Code compliance for all violations not
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deemed to be .life safety violations shall be
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completed within sixty (60) days of receipt of
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the inspection report. The building official may
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grant an extension of not more than one hundred
twenty (120) days to complete code. compliance,
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not to exceed a total time of one hundred eighty
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(180) days from the date of inspection which
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revealed the violation.
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SECTION 11. LRC Sec. 8 -583 is hereby further amended to
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insert two new subsections (f) and (g) to state as follows:
(f) Owners of four (4) or more rental dwelling
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units are eligible to submit a plan for
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rehabilitation of all the units included in the plan
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in order to bring the units into code compliance. In
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such instances the owner shall obtain an approved
rehabilitation plan from, the building official
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pursuant to the administrative guidelines of the
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Rental Inspection Program. The building official may
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allow up to twenty -four (24) months from plan
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approval for code compliance of all units included in
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the plan. Life safety violations shall not be
eligible for inclusion in a rehabilitation plan.
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(g) Neither life safety violations nor any
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component of an approved rehabilitation plan shall be
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subject to appeal to the housing board of adjustments
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and appeals.
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The existing subsections lettered (f) and (g) shall be
re- lettered (h) and (i) accordingly.
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SECTION 12. LRC § 8 -585 is amended only by substituting the
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word "'present" for the word °displaym in the second sentence of
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the section so that the second sentence shall now state:
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Upon request of the city, an existing or
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prospective tenant, the owner or agent shall present
the certificate.
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SECTION 13. Severability. This ordinance and its various
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parts are hereby declared to be severable. If any section,
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clause, provision or portion of this ordinance is declared
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invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
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jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the
validity
of
this ordinance as a whole. All parts not declared
invalid
or
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unconstitutional shall remain in full force and effect.
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SECTION 14. This ordinance shall be and shall
remain
in
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full force and effect thirty (30) days from and
after
its
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adoption.
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PASSED: December 19, 1995
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ATTEST: APPROVED:
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wdi. a (,
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CIITTY CLERK PIA R
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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RHOP� S M. 6�
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CITY ATTORNEY
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