<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 10-163. - Powers of director.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
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               <span class="ital">General.</span>
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               (1)
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               The director shall have such powers as may be necessary, lawful, or convenient to
               carry out and effectuate the purpose and provisions of this article, including (without
               limiting the generality of the forgoing) the following powers:
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               a.
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               To investigate the dwelling conditions in the unincorporated areas of the county in
               order to determine which dwellings therein are unfit for human habitation.
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               b.
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               To administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence.
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               c.
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               To enter upon premises for the purpose of making inspections in a manner that will
               cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession.
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               d.
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               To appoint and fix the duties, as provided in this article, of such officers, agents,
               and employees as he deems necessary to carry out the purpose of this article.
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               (b)
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               <span class="ital">Inspections.</span>
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               (1)
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               It shall be the duty of the enforcement officer to examine the dwellings located in
               the unincorporated areas of the county for the purpose of determining the fitness
               of dwellings for human habitation, and for the enforcement and administration of this
               article upon receiving a complaint. In exercising this power, the enforcement officer
               shall have a right to enter on any premises within the unincorporated areas of the
               county at all reasonable hours (between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
               and at the convenience of the occupant) for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement
               action, upon presentation of proper credentials. Upon refusal after proper notice,
               the enforcement officer shall have the right to inspect pursuant to G.S. Article 4A
               of Chapter 15, as amended.
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               (2)
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               If, during the course of an inspection, the enforcement officer finds evidence of
               construction in progress that would require a permit (or permits) pursuant to G.S.
               153A-357, the owner shall produce evidence that such permit(s) have been obtained
               prior to issuance of any housing certificate.
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               (3)
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               It shall be the responsibility of the owner to relocate any moveable obstructions
               (furniture, boxes, appliances and construction materials, for example) that would
               otherwise interfere with a complete inspection. The enforcement officer shall not
               be responsible for failure to detect violations of this article when such violations
               are concealed behind, under or above walls, floors, ceilings, or other fixed components
               of the dwelling.
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               (c)
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               <span class="ital">Reports.</span> Inspection findings will be recorded on standardized correction order forms and provided
               to the owner. Such standardized forms shall include specific references to sections
               of this article when any violations are recorded. The reports shall contain notice
               of deficiencies under this article and inform the owner of any deadline to remedy
               the deficiencies. Within five days of the owner's receipt of such report, the owner(s)
               shall advise the occupants of the dwelling, if any, of any deficiencies under this
               article that are identified in the order. If any of the deficiencies enumerated in
               such report are among those set forth in<a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH10BUBURE_ARTVREHOOR_S10-158UNCO" class="section-link" data-product-id="12776"> section 10-158</a> of this article, the owner(s) shall advise all occupants of the building of such
               deficiencies within five days of the owner's receipt of such report.
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            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 98-1-6, Â§ 13, 1-20-98)
               </p></div>