§ 8.76.015. Security screens—Appearance standards.

A.

Purpose. In residential areas, an unoccupied dwelling unit or residential building secured with unpainted plywood visually stands out, tends to encourage vandalism, reduces the desirability of the neighborhood and impacts resales. The purpose of this Section is to reduce the negative visual impacts of unoccupied dwelling units by establishing minimum appearance standards for measures taken to secure the building from unlawful entry. It is intended that such measures, to the extent possible, disguise the vacant occupancy status of the building.

B.

Scope. The provisions of this Section apply to any vacant dwelling or group of vacant dwelling units.

C.

Prohibited materials. No wood, plastic or similar materials shall be used to cover window openings, whether glazed or unglazed after January 1, 1986.

D.

Permitted materials. Steel screens, bars or grilles complying with this Section may be installed over window openings.

1.

The screens, bars or grilles shall be either painted, galvanized, plastic-coated, anodized, or cadmium-plated to protect against oxidation and discoloration.

2.

The color of the materials used shall be either gray, black or silver.

3.

All screens, bars or grilles installed over operable bedroom windows shall be equipped with a quick-release mechanism approved by the Building Official.

E.

Doors. Door and sliding-door openings may be secured with not less than one-half inch (½") plywood (if made operable with the use of hinges and locking hasp). Plywood coverings shall be painted on a manner similar to the permanent doors of the dwelling unit.

F.

Exception. Nothing specified herein shall be construed to prevent emergency hazard abatement authorized pursuant to Section 18.20.380 by materials otherwise prohibited by these provisions.

G.

Alternates. The Building Official may approve alternate methods of complying with this Section when such methods are found to be equivalent to prescriptive requirements or comply with the spirit and purpose of the regulations.

(Ord. C-6161 § 2, 1985)