SEC. 91.8901. GENERAL.

(Amended by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

91.8901.1. Purpose of Division. It is the purpose of the provisions of this division to provide a just, equitable and practicable method, to be cumulated with and in addition to any other remedy available by law, whereby buildings, structures, premises and portions thereof which are within the scope of this division may be vacated, secured, cleaned, repaired, demolished or removed.

91.8901.2. Scope. The provisions of this division shall apply to all existing buildings, structures, premises and portions thereof which are a nuisance, a hazard or a substandard residential building.

All sections of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code are applicable to those buildings determined to be “substandard residential buildings” as defined herein.

The Department of Building and Safety may approve certain deviations from the requirements of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code concerning substandard residential buildings, provided the items concerned were built in compliance with code or ordinance provisions in effect at the time of construction, and provided, further, that such additional corrections as may be required by the Department are made so as to ensure that the building complies with the intent of the division.

91.8901.3. Interference Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct, impede or interfere with any representative of the Department, including contractors hired by the Department or with the inspector of any Department of this city, or with any person who owns or holds any estate or interest in any building or structure which has been ordered to be vacated, secured, cleaned, repaired, demolished or removed, or with any person to whom such building or structure has been lawfully sold pursuant to the provisions of this division whenever any such representative of the Department, inspector, purchaser or person having an interest or estate in such building or structure is engaged in inspecting, securing, cleaning, vacating, repairing, demolishing or removing any such building or structure pursuant to the provisions of this division, or in performing any necessary act preliminary to or incidental to such work, or authorized or directed pursuant hereto.

91.8901.4. Liability of Officers or Employees of the City.

91.8901.4.1. City Employees Not Personally Liable. No officer, agent, or employee of the City of Los Angeles shall be personally liable for any damage incurred or alleged to be incurred as a result of any act required, permitted or authorized to be done or performed in the discharge of their duties pursuant to this division.

91.8901.4.2. Suits to be Defended by City Attorney. Any suit brought against any officer, agent or employee of the City of Los Angeles as a result of any act required, permitted or authorized in the discharge of their duties under this division shall be deemed an action against the City and shall be defended by the City Attorney.

91.8901.5. Other Provisions of the Municipal Code Unaffected Hereby. The provisions of this division shall not be deemed to repeal by implication any other provision of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and the adoption hereof shall not be deemed to affect or diminish the power or authority of an officer or employee of the City to condemn any building or structure erected or maintained in violation of any other provisions of said code.

91.8901.6. Separability of Provisions of This Division. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted each separate provision of this division, regardless of the adoption of any other provision, and if any remedy provided for in this division be held unavailable or limited in effect, such limitation shall not affect the application of any other provision of this division.

91.8901.7. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the remedies or penalties provided by this division are cumulative to each other and to the remedies or penalties available under law.

The provisions set forth in Article 8, Chapter IX of the LAMC shall not apply to proceedings conducted pursuant to this division. However, the Superintendent of Building and the Board may utilize the procedures described therein, to the extent necessary to assure that an owner has a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the abatement of the public nuisance conditions on that owner's property. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

91.8901.8. Wherever service is required in this division, that service may be accomplished by personal service as authorized in Sections 415.10, 415.20, and 415.21 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.