Revisions to the Housing and Building Maintenance Code
(HBMC) were approved by Seattle City Council on September 11, 2000 and
become effective October 16, 2000.
The amendments included a variety of procedural
improvements and clarifications of standards, as well as an increase
in civil penalties for violations of the standards for maintaining
vacant buildings. Specific changes include:
- Increase in the civil penalty for violations of the standards
for maintaining vacant buildings from $15 per day to $75 per day.
- Implementation of new procedures for processing requests for
variances from HBMC requirements. Changes to the substantive
requirements for variances which make it slightly easier to qualify
for a variance.
- Simplification of the procedure for requested reviews of
Notices of Violation by the Director by eliminating the requirement
for a meeting at the department and adjusting process time frames.
- Clarification of language on complying with notices or orders
issued under the HBMC. Addition of a rebuttable presumption that
violations have not been corrected if compliance is not demonstrated
and confirmed by DCLU inspection. Added language to clarify the
burden of proof in an action for civil penalties.
- Clarification and improvement to the readability of technical
requirements for stairs and stairway construction; number of exits;
stairway enclosures; fire escapes; corridors, doors and openings;
enclosure of vertical openings; separation of occupancies; guardrails;
bars, grilles, grates and similar devices; and requirements for
dwellings.
- Clarification of the requirements for emergency escape windows
and doors by adding substantive requirements to the HBMC which
previously had been incorporated by reference to the Seattle Building
Code.
- Update of the department name and correct references to other
code sections. Removal of reference to code provisions which
have been repealed.
- Update of Seattle Building Code references.
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For
More Information: |
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An updated PDF version of the HBMC is available
online on our Codes page.
Paper copies will be available at
the DCLU Public Resource Center, 710 Second Ave, (206) 684-8467,
by October 26.
Questions concerning the HBMC amendments may be
directed to:
Karen White, DCLU
karen.white
@ci.seattle.wa.us
(206) 233-3893
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