Chapter 323. To authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to remove dangerous or unsafe buildings and parts thereof, and for other purposes
989 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-30/chapter-323-4103718·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 323.— An Act To authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to remove dangerous or unsafe buildings and parts thereof, and for other purposes. March 1, 1899. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That if in the District ofDistrict of Columbia.Removal or repair of unsafe buildings. Columbia any building or part of a building, staging, or other structure, or anything attached to or connected with any building or other structure, shall, from any cause, be reported unsafe, the inspector of buildings shall examine such structure, and if, in his opinion, the same be unsafe, he shall immediately notify the owner, agent, or other person having an interest in said structure to cause the same to be made safe and secure, or that the same be removed, as may be necessary.
The person or persons so notified shall be allowed until twelve o’clock noon of the day following the service of such notice in which to commence the securing or removal of the same; and he or they shall employ sufficient labor to remove or secure the said building as expeditiously as can be done: *Provided, however,* That in a case where the public*Proviso.*—urgency. safety requires immediate action the inspector of buildings may enter upon the premises, with such workmen and assistants as may be necessary, and cause the said unsafe structure to be shored up, taken down, or otherwise secured without delay, and a proper fence or boarding to be put up for the protection of passers-by.
Sec. 2. That when the public safety does not, in the judgment of theNeglect to comply with notice to repair. inspector of buildings, demand immediate action, if the owner, agent, or other party interested in said unsafe structure, having been notified, shall refuse or neglect to comply with the requirements of said notice within the time specified, then a careful survey of the premises shall be—board to survey, etc. made by three disinterested persons, one to be appointed by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, one by the owner or other person interested, and the third to be chosen by these two, and the report of said survey shall be reduced to writing, and a copy served upon the owner or other interested party; and if said owner or other interested party refuse or neglect to appoint a member of said board of survey within the time specified in said notice, then the survey shall be made by the inspector of buildings and the person chosen by the Commissioners, and in case of disagreement they shall choose a third person, and the determination of a majority of the three so chosen shall be final.
Sec. 3. That whenever the report of any such survey shall declare—report; refusal to comply with. the structure to be unsafe, and the owner or other interested person shall for three days neglect or refuse to cause such structure to be taken down or otherwise to be made safe, the inspector of buildings shall proceed—inspector of buildings to perform work. to make such structure safe or remove the same, and the said inspector shall report the cost and expense of said work to the Commissioners—assessment of cost. of said District, who shall assess the amount thereof upon the lot of ground whereon such structure stands or stood, and unless the said assessment is paid within ninety days from the service of notice thereof on the agent or owner of such property, the same shall bear interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum from the date of such assessment until paid, and shall be collected as general taxes are collected in said District; but said assessment shall be without prejudice to the right which the owner may have to recover from any lessee or other person liable for repairs.
Sec. 4. That the existence on any uninclosed lot or parcel of land inUncovered wells, etc., on uninclosed lots declared nuisances. the city of Washington, or its more densely populated suburbs, of any uncovered well, cistern, dangerous hole, or excavation is hereby declared a nuisance dangerous to life and limb, and any person owning a lot or—penalty for failure to abate. parcel of land in said city or said suburbs on which such a nuisance exists who shall neglect or refuse to abate the same to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, after five days’ notice from them to do so, shall, on conviction in the police court, be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty dollars for each and every day he or she fails to comply with such notice.
And in case the owner of any uninclosed—owner non resident, notice to; assessment. lot or parcel of land in the city of Washington or its more densely 924 FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Sess. III. Chs. 323, 324. 1899. populated suburbs on which there exists an open well, cistern, dangerous hole, or excavation be a nonresident of the District of Columbia then after public notice by said Commissioners, given at least twice a week for one week in one newspaper published in the city of Washington, by advertisement, describing the property, specifying the nuisance to be abated, then if such nuisance shall not be abated within one week after the expiration of such notice, said Commissioners may cause the lot or parcel of land on which the nuisance exists to be secured by fences or otherwise inclosed, and the cost and expense thereof shall be assessed by said Commissioners as a tax against the property on which such nuisance exists, and the tax so assessed shall bear interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum until paid, and shall be carried on the regular tax rolls of said District and be collected in the manner provided for the collection of general taxes.
Approved, March 1, 1899.