A. The purpose of this ordinance is to promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Phoenix, Arizona, and to protect neighborhoods against hazardous, blighting and deteriorating influences or conditions that contribute to the downgrading of neighborhood property values by establishing minimum standards for the condition of the interior of residential buildings and by establishing requirements for maintenance of all residential and nonresidential buildings, structures of whatever kind, and vacant and improved land.

B. The ordinance shall apply to all buildings, structures and lands within the City of Phoenix without regard to the use, the date of construction, improvement or alteration.

C. The ordinance shall be fairly, sensibly, and reasonably applied to promote the maintenance of all existing buildings and land in the City of Phoenix. The intent is to insure that individuals and families do not suffer undue hardship.

D. The ordinance shall not require changes in existing buildings and utilities when alterations were installed and have been maintained in accordance with the City of Phoenix Construction Code in effect at the time of construction or alteration of the subject building or utilities. This subsection does not apply when the building has been determined to be an imminent hazard, unsafe, unhealthy, blighted or deteriorated, when the building has been moved to another location, or in connection with the requirements of Section 39-5, subsections B, C, and D.

E. Interior inspections will be done with approval of the owner or responsible party, or by a court order. (Ord. No. G-3859, § 3; Ord. No. G-4079, § 1, 1998)