<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 4-129. - Charge of unfit dwelling; hearing.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="p0">
               Whenever a petition is filed with the public officer by a public authority or by at
               least five residents of the county charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation
               or whenever it appears to the public officer, on his own motion, that any dwelling
               is unfit for human habitation, the public officer shall, if his preliminary investigation
               discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner and
               the parties in interest in such dwelling a complaint stating charges in that respect
               and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the public officer at a
               place within the county in which the property is located fixed not less than ten days
               nor more than 30 days after the serving of the complaint. The owner and parties in
               interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear
               in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint.
               The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling
               in hearings before the public officer.
               </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 10-4-88)
               </p>
            <p class="refstatelaw0" block_type="hang"><b>State Law referenceâ€” </b>
               Similar provisions, G.S. 160-443(2).
               </p></div>