<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 4-131. - Failure of owner to comply with order.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               If the owner fails to comply with an order to repair, alter or improve or to vacate
               and close the dwelling, the public officer may cause the dwelling to be repaired,
               altered or improved or to be vacated and closed. The public officer may cause to be
               posted on the main entrance of any dwelling so closed a placard with the following
               words, "The building is unfit for human habitation; the use or occupation of this
               building for human habitation is prohibited and unlawful." Occupation of a building
               so posted shall constitute a misdemeanor.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the dwelling, the
               public officer may cause such dwelling to be removed or demolished.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The duties of the public officer set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section
               shall not be exercised until the county board of commissioners shall have by ordinance
               ordered the public officer to proceed to effectuate the purpose of this article with
               respect to the particular property which the public officer shall have found to be
               unfit for human habitation and which property shall be described in the ordinance.
               No such ordinance shall be adopted to require demolition of a dwelling until the owner
               has first been given a reasonable opportunity to bring it into conformity with the
               housing code. This ordinance shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds
               of the county wherein the property is located and shall be indexed in the name of
               the property in the grantor index.
               </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(4), (5).
               </p></div>