The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:

Approved shall mean that which the health officer by rule or regulation designates acceptable as a device, apparatus or method which by demonstration or test has proven workable for its intended use, and which will not affect humans or animals other than rodents.

Building shall mean any structure, public or private, that is adapted to or used for dwelling occupancy as defined in the housing law of the state; for the transaction of business; for the rendering of professional service, amusement, the display, sale or storage of goods, wares, merchandise, articles or equipment; for office buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants, grain processors, abattoirs, factories, warehouses, workshops, garages; and for outhouses, sheds, barns or other structures or premises used as an accessory to any such uses.

Food and foodstuffs is intended to include, besides human food, grain and other feed for animals or fowl.

Rat control shall mean the distribution of rat poison, setting of rat traps, fumigation or such other methods of rat eradication as may be approved by the health officer.

Rat harborage shall mean any condition under which rats may find shelter or protection.

Ratproofing applies to a form of construction which will prevent the ingress or egress of rats to or from a given space or building, or gaining access to food, water or harborage. It consists of the closing and keeping closed by the use of material impervious to rat gnawing of every opening in foundations, basements, cellars, exterior and interior walls, ground or first floors, roofs, sidewalk gratings, sidewalk openings and other places that may be reached and entered by rats by climbing, burrowing or other methods.

(Code 1958, § 4-901; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

The health officer is hereby empowered to promulgate and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations for carrying out the purpose and intent of this chapter.

(Code 1958, § 4-910; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

Every building erected after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section was derived, the ground around it and every alteration, addition, extension, enlargement or repairs thereto, shall be ratproofed and maintained in such condition.

(Code 1958, § 4-902; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

Every building existing at the effective date of the ordinance from which this section was derived, the ground around it and every alteration, addition, extension, enlargement or repair thereto shall be ratproofed when in the opinion of the health officer or the chief building inspector, a rat harborage or potential rat harborage exists and shall thereafter be maintained in such condition. All vacant or unimproved property shall be kept free of rat harborage at all times. The owner or owners of any building, vacant or unimproved property within the city shall be responsible for complying with the provisions of this chapter.

(Code 1958, § 4-903; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, contractor, public utility or any other person in making alterations, additions, extensions, enlargements or repairs, or in making installation of wires, conduits, pipes or other installations, or for any other purpose to remove and fail to restore in like condition the ratproofing from any building or to make new openings therein that are not ratproofed.

(Code 1958, § 4-908; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

All ratproofing required by and done under the terms of this chapter shall be with materials approved by the health officer and the chief building inspector for the purpose intended and no cracks or openings shall be permitted which are larger than three-eighths of an inch wide and one-half inch in diameter respectively.

(Code 1958, § 4-912; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

All building material, lumber, boxes, cartons, barrels, cans, containers, machinery, raw material, junk, fabricated goods, food, foodstuffs and similar things which may afford harborage or food for rats, shall be kept, stored or handled in a manner or method approved by the health officer or the chief building inspector.

(Code 1958, § 4-904; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

No building or part thereof shall be used as a place where food or foodstuffs are stored, processed, prepared or manufactured, sold or offered for sale unless such building or part thereof is free from vermin and rodents.

(Code 1958, § 4-906; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

(a)

Exterior storage: All building material, lumber, boxes, cartons, barrels, bottles, cans, containers, machinery, junk, raw material, fabricated goods and similar items which may afford harborage for rats shall be stored or stacked in such manner, either upon ratproof paved areas or elevated 18 inches above the ground and so separated into storage units as to minimize the possibility of rat harborage and to permit inspection and extermination procedures.

(b)

Interior storage: All food and foodstuffs shall be stored in such a manner that ample spaces between floors, walls and partitions are provided to permit proper cleaning, inspection and exterminating procedures.

(Code 1958, § 4-914; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

Whenever there is a rat infestation in any building, open area or other premises the occupants thereof, and in the case of a multiple dwelling, the owner or owners thereof, shall immediately institute rat control and shall continuously maintain such measures until any such building, open area or other premises are declared by the health officer or the chief building inspector to be free of rat infestation.

(Code 1958, § 4-905; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

All buildings, vacant and unimproved property subject to this chapter and where rat infestation, or possible rat harborage is apparent, shall be ratproofed in a manner and with materials specified and approved by the chief building inspector.

(Code 1958, § 4-913; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

No license shall be issued for the storing, processing, preparing, manufacturing, selling or offering for sale of any food, foodstuff or food products unless and until the issuance of such license has been approved by the health officer, the premises where such operation is to be conducted has been approved by him or the chief building inspector as being of ratproof construction, or has been rendered ratproof or has no potential area for rat harborage.

(Code 1958, § 4-907; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)

No person shall feed wild birds other than in approved containers and supports for the food elevated at least 48 inches above the ground level.

(Code 1958, § 4-909; Ord. No. 182, § 1, 11-13-61)