City of San Mateo Law Library
City of San Mateo Municipal Code.

7.14.040 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

Chapter 3 General Requirements is amended as follows:

(a) Section 302.1 Sanitation is amended as follows:

The property owner is responsible for ensuring the property exterior and premises is maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. Such owner or authorized agent shall remain liable for violations thereof regardless of any contract or agreement with any third party regarding such property. The occupant may also be held jointly and severally liable for causing or contributing violations of this section.

(b) Section 302.2 Grading and drainage is amended as follows:

All premises shall be graded and maintained in accordance with Title 23 Building and Construction, to prevent the erosion of soil and prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any structure located thereon. Exception: Approved retention areas and reservoirs.

(c) Section 302.4 Weeds is amended as follows:

No owner, authorized agent, lessee or occupant or other person having charge or control of any building, lot or premises within the city shall permit weeds exceeding twelve inches in height to remain or accumulate upon such premises or upon public sidewalks or streets or alleys between such premises and the centerline of any public street or alley. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited.

Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to citation, administrative enforcement, or other means of enforcement prescribed by the municipal code or state law. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the city or contractor hired by the city shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or authorized agent responsible for the property.

(d) Section 303 Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs is not adopted.

(e) Section 304.3 Premises identification is not adopted.

(f) Section 304.14 Insect screens is amended as follows:

Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing in good working condition.

Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellent fans, are employed.

(g) Section 304.15 Doors is amended as follows:

All exterior doors, door assemblies including weather stripping, thresholds and hardware shall be maintained in good condition. Locks at all entrances to dwelling units and sleeping units shall tightly secure the door.

(h) Section 304.16 Basement hatchways is amended as follows:

Basement hatchways and under-floor access doors and ventilation openings shall be maintained to prevent the entrance of rodents, rain and surface drainage water. Doors shall be tight fitting and ventilation openings shall be properly screened with corrosion-resistant wire mesh having openings not exceeding 1/4 inch in any dimension or alternate approved materials pursuant to the adopted California Building Standards Code.

(i) Section 309 Pest Elimination is amended as follows:

If pest infestation, determined by a licensed pest control professional, is found in the habitable space the owner of the structure shall promptly eliminate the infestation by an approved process that will not be injurious to human health. After pest elimination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.

If reinfestation is determined by a licensed pest control professional to be caused by failure of an occupant to prevent such infestation in the area occupied, the occupant and owner shall be responsible for pest elimination.

(j) 309.3 Single occupant is amended as follows:

The occupant of a one-family dwelling or of a single- tenant nonresidential structure, who has occupied the structure for two (2) years or more, shall be responsible for pest elimination on the premises.

(k) 309.4 Multiple occupancy

The owner of a structure containing four (4) or more dwelling units, a multiple occupancy, a rooming house or a nonresidential structure shall be responsible for pest elimination in the public or shared areas of the structure and exterior property.

The Code Official shall require the property owner to provide a report and remediation plan from a licensed pest control professional.

(l) 309.5 Occupant Is not adopted.