(1) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 101.1 and replacing it with:

These regulations shall be known as the International Property Maintenance Code of the City of Covington, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”

(2) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 103 title and replacing it with:

Administration and Enforcement of Property Maintenance Inspection.

(3) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 103.1 and replacing it with:

The official in charge of enforcing and administering the International Property Maintenance Code shall be known as the code official. “Code Official” shall mean the designee of the City Manager. The Code Official is responsible for the enforcement and administration of the International Property Maintenance Code. All references within this code to “Department of Property Maintenance Inspection” shall mean the “City of Covington”.

(4) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 103.2.

(5) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 103.5 title and replacing it with:

The fees for activities and services performed by the department in carrying out its responsibilities under this code shall be in accordance with Covington Municipal Code.

(6) The International Property Maintenance Code, Section 109.5, is amended by adding the following:

109.5 Assessment. Upon certification of the assessment amount being due and owing, the county treasurer shall enter the amount of the assessment upon the tax rolls against the property for the current year and the same shall become a part of the general taxes for that year to be collected at the same time and with interest at such rates and in such manner as provided for in RCW 84.56.020, as now or later amended, for delinquent taxes, and when collected to be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the city.

Priority. The assessment shall constitute a lien against the property which shall be of equal rank with state, county and municipal taxes.

The code official shall keep an itemized accounting of the expenses incurred by the City of Covington in the course of repair or demolition of any building pursuant to the provisions of Section 110.3 of this code. Upon completion of the demolition or repair work as ordered, the code official will prepare a report specifying the work performed and the itemized cost of such work and the legal description of the property upon which the work was performed.

The code official shall prepare and forward to the legal owner of the said property an itemized billing of the total cost for the repair or demolition as required by Section 110.3 of this code. Such billing shall be sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the owner as the owner’s name and address appear on the last equalized tax roll of King County. Said bill shall be due and payable within sixty (60) days of receipt.

The owner may file with the applicable department a written appeal to the Hearing Examiner within thirty (30) days of receipt of the billing pursuant to the procedures outlined in Chapter 14.35 CMC. Within thirty (30) days of the Hearing Examiner’s decision, the balance of the billing due to the city shall become due and payable and if unpaid shall become a special assessment against the property as a lien.

(7) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 111.

(8) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 112.4.

(9) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 302.4 and replacing it as follows:

Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 12 inches in height. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.

(10) The following sections of the IPMC, or the corresponding section of any updated or amended version of the IPMC, are removed in their entirety and not adopted:

(11) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 602.3 title and replacing it with:

Required heating.

Where the winter design temperature in Table R301.2(1) is below 60°F (16°C), every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of not less than 68°F (20°C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor and 2 feet (610 mm) from exterior walls in habitable rooms at the design temperature. The installation of one or more portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.

(12) The International Property Maintenance Code is amended by deleting Section 602.5. (Ord. 19-20 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 11-16 § 1 (Exh. 1))