HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance - 706-1945 - Better Protect The Public Health. Rat Proofing - 03_22_1945oa-zz-t..94S ORDINANCE N0.-1Q~ 04-I 3-1..9-45 . '"-. ... AN ORDINANCE TO BET~ PRDrECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, AND PARTICtJLAHJ..x TO ·Pmc-VENl' THE INTRODUCTION ~ND SPREAD OF MURINE ENDEMIC TYPHUS FEVER AND OTHER RAT-BORNE DISEASES, BY lROVIDING FOR THE RAT-PROOFI NG OF ALL BUILDINGS, OUTHOUSES , SUPERSTRUC'l'URlS, ST.o\BLES, LOTS, OPEN ARE-.4.8 AND OTHER PREMISES, DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS; SIDEWALRS, STREETS, AND AlLEYS:/ PROVIDING FOR PENA.LTIES FOR THE VIOLATION
mmmEOF; PROVIDING THAT TH1!. INVALIDITY 0~ ltNY PART O'F THIS ORDINANCE SHALL
NOT INVALIDATE ALL OF SAID OIDHl~NCE, AND l)roi.A ~HI~ AN IEMfR~ENGY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY CO.MMISSION OF THl!; CITY OF LUBBOCK:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIOBS: -For the purpose of this ordinance, the
following definitions shall apply:
(a) The term "business buildirigs" shall mean Bny structure,
whether public or private, regardless of the type of material used in its
construction, located within the boundaries of ·::.he City of Lubbock that
is adapted to the occupancy fo~ transaction of business, whether vacant
.~~pr occupied, for the rendering or professional services, for the display,
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}'ieale or storage . of goods, wares ~r merchandise, or for the performance of
:tork or labor, including hotels, ·l'ooming houses, beer parlors, office build-
··• ~~~s, public buildings, stores, ma~kets, restaurants, grain elevators and
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· .. ~abattoirs, warehouses, workshops anq, factories.
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~·:·. · (b) The term "openingtt SMll mean and refer to any opening in the
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·~ ., ;~foundation, side or walls of any bus~ness building, including root, chimney
/JtJ ·1. ·r~-j ~,· la~s, grills, windows, sidewalk gr&tea and sidewalk elevators, through
hi'oh a rat may pass. :, . \
<'1· • • \ ~· <; (o) The term "rat-stoppage" mea'ns ac i.r !Pl.~ form of r.a1f-
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~~fing designed to prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings •
. ~.~~It~is essentially the closing or protecting of all openings in exterior
~~~ils and foundations or the g1etes in ·a sidewalk of business buildings
. ;,. .. ~~ \~.t.~b rat-pr~of materials installed in such a manner as to prevent rats :rran
r! ~: . ~~~ :'f~.~ning entrance. .
· ·: ~~· (d) The term "rat harborage" shall mean any condition found to .
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· _·''tst under which rats may find shelter or protection, and shall include
:-_ \ de recti ve co not ruction which -waul d permit the ent ranee of re. ts 1 nto
::;~business building .
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-2-(e) The term "pr-emises" shall include all business buildin€s, outhouses, sheds, barns, earaees, docks, wh arves, piers, grain elevators and a~ttoirs, whetber public or t_)rivate, and a.n~l onu all other structures used in connection '1Jith the operation of F.l n~' hnl'liness building as herein defined. {f) '.rhe term "person'' shell includn ovmer, occnrant, agent, in-dividual, ~13rtnership or corporation, or any o ther l)arson in custody of any business build i.n~ ~s definGd herein.
SEC'fiO N 2. It shAll be unlawful for any parson, i'll'I'l or corporation
to cons1ruct within the ccr1mr ~te limits of t he City of Lubbock any business
buildin~, curb or fan ~3rs ' ~qrk~t, unlass such construction shall render the
business building rat-proof in acco rdance with the re~ulations prescribed
by this ordinance.
s·ECTION 3. !'rom and F!ftar the p~ssage of this ordinance, the City Healtl
Officer, the Director of Public Health of the City of I.ubbock, or his repre-
sentative, is authorized to frl•JJ~e fre ·1uent Rnd umnmounced 1 nspections of
exi•ting business buildin..;s within th& corporate limits of the City of Lub-
bock for the purpose of deterrnining any r.-!:'.t i_nfe~t.~tlon, and order by writ-
ten notice either the ownP.r, occupant, agent, or any other person in custody
ot any rat-infested business building to protect a~id business building by
rat-stoppage as herein provldad, regardless of the need for the remodeling
of or repairs to such business b1:d.ldings, aw:t further order that such other
rat control metllods be em_ploy=.d fiS may be deemed n ece ssary by the Public
Health Otfioer •1r h1s representative to maintain busin"sB buildines tree
from rats. 'rhe written notice and/or order shall spectfy tha time, in no
event less than fifteen (15) de.ys, for completion of such work and improve-
menta. Unless said work and improvements are colllpleted in accordance ·with
the wT"itten order and/or notice by either said owner, whether individual.
partnership, corporation, oncupant, agant. or any other person in custody
of the business huilrltn¥ vd.tt1in the· time so specified or vli thin the time to
which a written extension has been granted by the l:i.lblic Health Officer. or
his representative, then, in such event, th..:: owner, occupant, agent or any
other person in custody or the buildin~· slwll be deemed guilty of an offense
under the provisions of tllis ordinance.
SECTION 4. 'l'hat from and after tlte passat!.e of this ordinance the
Publio tiealth Officer, or his represente-.ti ve, is authorized to make inspec-
tions during the course of and upon completion ot any suoh oonstruotion,
repairs, rer~1odeling or installation of rat-control measures to business
·.ildings to insure com p liance vdth the provisions of this ordinance, and
·. -3-'I no person shall interfer~ with or refuse to permit suoh 'inspection. SECTION 5. That for the purpose of obtaining .maximum rat-stoppage at· ·• a minimum cost to the owner or occupant of business buildi~s, the follow-: ~/· ·~~ :ti'· 1ng regulations are set forth as the minimum requirements tor applying rat ~~ ':{ stoppage to busin~ss buildings: ·I .. • .;,t: ~.~ ..... ;;~ (a) The .Public Health Officer or his representative shall appro~:~j'! . 'if...~' all materials used and the method of installation. "" :r.~· 1· : ~,.:<t
(b) Solid sheet metal, expanded metal and wire cloth speoitied in ,~:r .. ,;.~.:.
these regulations shall have a rust-resisting, protective coating, pretera~ft
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galvanized. ..;··~·-···· .·--~·
(o) ~;1 :round\tion wall ventilator openings shall be co17ere~ ·.:r~~,$.
their entire height and width with perforated sheet metal plates ot a~thict~\ . -, '~·~r
ness not less than :fourteen (14) gauge, or with expanded sheet; metal ot ·a ~j.l~-
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thickness not less than eighteen (18) gauge, or with cast iron grills or g~tes
··, ,i;.,tt or with any other material of sutfioient strength and equal rat-resisting <:·!.<·~ ~~~!
properties. The openings therin shall be small enough to prevent the iDSr~~;
?P,."1r.;K . ~' . I ot rats, and in no instance shall be larger than one-halt ( i") inch. f. .. ~~
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(d) All foundations and exterior wall openings, excluding those ·:~,~i~
... ;)o-'r~r
used tor the purpose of ventilation, light, doors. and windows·, lJhob ·&s tholi . ~~ ;, ....
f' ... Jh ,.,
openings around pipes, electrio cables, conduits, openings due to de~eriorat9d
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wall, broken masonry or concrete, shall be protected against the ingress ot )~
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rats by closing suoh openings with oement mortar, concrete or masonry, or .·~: :f
olose-titting sheet metal or suitable size pipe flanges or other material· :&~l :~}.j.;t • ··. ·r,~:~ with equal rat-resisting properties, whioh shall be securely fastened -in pl.:oe.
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(e) All exposed edges of the lower eight (8"} inohes of wooden , .;.'<~:~
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doors and door jambs, serving as front, rear or side entranoes into bu~i~~~e ~~~
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buildings, from the ground, basement or cellar floors, and other doors acce'~~~
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si ble to rats, shall be protected against the gnawing of rats by cove~ing ·· ;1,'f~
a,>'i,\.
said doors and jambs with solid sheet metal of not less than twenty-tour. (ii)f
gauge thickness. The same material shall be used on door sills or threshot~~)
or such door sills or thresholds ina/ b~-l ~onstructed o'r cement' st~ne ..... ~m-~~
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, ' r or cast iron.
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Doors, door jambs and sills of coal chutes and hatchways llha't .are~{'~-
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constructed of wood shall be covered with solid sheet metal of twenty..:tour ·;·.~~·
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(24) gauge or hea~ier, or they may be replaced with metal ohutes or twenty·~·
four (24) gauge ~o'i<""heavier installed in such manner as will prevent the .1n-!~
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. \!' ' !· grass of rats. i·''' /, . ....
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All doors on which metal flashing has been applied shall be
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hinged to provide for f~e swinging. When closed, doors shall fit snuglv so
that the maximum clearance between any door, door jambs and sill shall not
be greater than three-eighths (3/8") of an inch.
Door jambs and sills constructed of metal, concrete, masonry, stone
or cement mortar,. or cast iron and steel, when fitting closely to exolude
rats, are not required to comply with this provision ot the ordinance.
(t) Windows.-All windows and other openings for the purpose ot ;
light or ventilation, located in the side or rear of exterior walls and with-
in thirty (30") inches above the existing ground level immediately below
such opening, shall ~ ~overed for their entire height and width, including
frame, with wire cloth of nineteen (19) gauge or he~vier, having a mesh ot~
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not larger than one-half (i") inch.
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J All window and other openings for the purpose or light or ventila-
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tion in the exterior walls that may be accessible to rats by way of exposed
pipes, wires, conduits and other appurtenances, shall be covered with guards
of wire cloth of nineteen (19} gauge or heavier, ha~ing a mesh of not larger ..
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than one-half (i") inch, or, in lieU of wire cloth covering, said pipes, -i~
wires, .conduits .and other appurtenances shall be blocked from rat usage by
installing sheet metal guards of twenty-four (24} gauge or heavier. Suo~;
guards when used on horizontal pipes, wires, conduits or other appurtenances
shall be placed in a vertical position, and shall be snugly fitted around :.~
the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance. Said guard shall measure not
less than twelve (12") inches beyond and on all sides of the pipe, wire,
conduit or other appurtenance where the intervening space between the wall
and pipe parmi ts, and shall extend thirty (30") inches in an upward direction
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and twelve (1~ inches in a downward direction, and shall be securely fastened
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to the pipe,wire, conduit or other appurtenance and also to the adjaoent ·wall
where.-e.r practivable so th~t t he guard '.\111 1 r emc i n in a vertical position··
at all times. ·.
Such guards when used on vertical pipes, wires, conduits or other
appurtenances shall be fitted snugly around the pipe, wire, conduit or other
appurtenance, shall be placed in a horizontal position (right angle to PiPe,
etc.), and shall extend ho ri z ontally from the pipe, wire, conduit or other
appurtenance for a minimum distance of twelve (12") inches beyond and on all
sides of the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance, where the interven-. ..
ing space between pipe and wall permits, and shall be securely rastened to
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the pipe, wire, conduit or o~her appurtenance and also to t~e adjacent wail
wherever practicable
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in such manner that the guard will
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in shortest dimension, ()1' 1•:ttli si.Yteen (lo) gnU(!'e or he11vjer wiJ'e nloth with
nne-half (!") inch mesh.
At the opt inn of the ovn1~1' the open in'-; 1 n the w~ 11 of the building below
the grate mA.y be entirely c losdn ;, ith bri cl{ or cuncr~te or ~artially closed
anrl thH rernninint; opan .:;t:J&ct~ c~)v.)red wt tb ·ni nete:en (1 'il} gaug~ or heavier
wire clotl• -.Y!tll lu&sh not to axe<~ ad nne-half ( t") i ncb.
(h) Business but l6in;~s con~tructed on ·piers having wooden floor
sills less than twelve ( 12'1 ) inches a hove tho sur!'e ce of the ground aha 11
have the 1 nterveaing s);.lac.;, betrJc::an t'loor sill a. nd €-'ron no protected against
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the ingress of rats by instb.lline:; a soliCi mA.sonr•r J or concrete not less than
four (4") inches thick or solid :::heat metal curtain 'Netll of twenty-four (24)
gRuge or heavier around the entire perimeteJ' of the~ husiness building and
extendtng said curtain w9lJ to :'1 depth of not lass ttu~n thirty-six (36"}
tn~hes hel.O''' the surta~e of' th .~ p-ronnd levc7J S'lnd f(:!Stenin f! securely to the
exterior wAll of the lmsi.ness hnilding, in s1111P mHnnt'H' as will prevent rats
from enterf JW the hut lrt i n [t .
In lien of' thA instAll~tion of curtain "JP.lls, "\]1 hround floors
of wood constrn~tion JtF:Y ha r~~~lf;Ct;:ll '.:titll .:;.:.o~w 1 'ete of not lass than three
( ~"} 1 nches 1 n thick nGH s ':1 i. t i1 t ltd exter tor •:1 ~-. 1 1.:3 x: rota ct.Gc1 for a height of
twenty-four (24'1 ) innhes abov.:; cl1 .:; concrete floor with masonry, concrete or
solid sheet metal of twentv-i"c.nr ( ?,lJ.) gatlf'A or hes.vier. .l!:xt.arior wall protec-
tion shall be senurAly t:i .~rl j nto the concret r; f'Joor ...:.t :'1.1 J points.
Bustn~ss huilaiw?s C·)l1Structaa on j)i.ers h13.v1nt; wo oden floor sills
tzr.:,ateJ• t\'t l-'t n twelve (lP-11 ) j nchos ebova thr-; r.:rollrt(1 level f..hF~ll have the in-
te rvan.i. ng spaces bet~·J;..:.-:n tJ onr siJ J and ;.'T'I)tmd prot~cted ag!:l inst t.he ingress
of r9ts b :/ j nstal l 1 ng curt.-; in ~·'I A lls in accordance with the preceding pftra-
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by installing soli a ~h ::r.:t lll~"·t~l c o verage of t.•Nt:nrt.:,r-t'rmr ( ~4) e:·ane.:e or heavier
snuely around each ~)ipe, cF1blo, wire, conduit •Yr othc::r utiljty sE"::rvioe pase-
1.ng through wood&n ~ronr1a t'loor. Said nctA 1 coverf\e:e shall not ba less than
eight ( 8 11 } 1. nohe s 1 n difltr!e tH r larg e r tl1a t1 d il'lmc t s r or 1-i pa, cs ble, wire • con-
dni t or ather utilj ty servl ce 1 f.t nd sha 11 b" se curcil y ft:l s'tane.d to the wooden
floor. AlJ other opt::ninr.s in '.'JOonen grouna floor::> through \'Hl.i .oh rats may
eai n Antrn nee into double wa .L.l s or the 1 ntari or ot' business buildi ~s, suoh
as openings th~t tn..:\Y exist in floors and donble wA.l.ls ~bov.a floor sills, shall
be olosed with twenty-four ( 24) gauge or lH~E~vie r flol ict she a t r.Jete.l or sixteen
(16) g~uge or ha~vier wire nl oth o f one-hR] f (~") inch rrh'3Sh or with concrete
or masonry. Wood frame oonstructed business builtH ngs h'lving concrete or
masonry foundation walls shBJ.J h~ve ventilAtors in foundation walls protected
as herein provided in Section 5 (d). All miscellaneous wall openings, doora
and windows shall be prqtected in accordance witll this ordinance.
SECTION 6. Curb or faruiurs' markets in whi.oh fruit or vegetables or
any other food products are exposed and offered for Aale, on racks, stands,
platforms and in vehicles outside of business buil<iin~s, shall have floors
paved with concrete or asphalt for the entire surface areA of the market.
Display raolcs, stands or· !)lr:tt.'l'orms on which fruit or vegetables or any other
food products are displayed or offered for sale shall be of sufficient height
that all such fruit, vega~ablas or other food products shall be kept at a dis-
tance of not less than tjiglrteen (18") :1 nches H-bove the floor pavement and be
so constructed thf.\t rats OE,nnot harbor theitln or thereunder.
SECTION 7. For the purl-ose of eliminAting all rA.ts that may remain in
building or r.lace of husiness
any business/after rat-stopp~~f'E: sJ:Hill have been carried into effect, all
store rooms, warehous.:;s or othe r businass buil din:·:s in the City shall be pro-
video by tl1"} Ot"Jner, occtlfJI'lnt, ~~~nt or Any other Pr-lrson jn custody of such
business build j_nP; ,,..111 th one or ll'lore tr& (lS, which shAll be ke ·pt set and freshly
ba.1 ted Pt fre11uent intervaJ s ;;n d r,min'ta.ined i n p-ood worki.nu oandi tian, _and
shall be inspected daily, l-ind ~) ny rat or rt:Lts caught therein shR 11 be killed,
removed daily and dispo:::ad •.>T' in !-'1 mFtnne,r HC:(~~,itnblu to ttJt~ City Health Of-
f .1 oer o r the Direct or ui' .•:nblic lfeal th 1 <'Utd ~wch tra p or t1~R ps reseb and
rebai ted.
f<Ats m?-'ly A..lflo he ut'::atl·Oyed by ,~Joisoning And fundgr:tt.ing in the man-
er approved hy the Ct ty He al til Officer or the .ui rector of h1bli c Health, or
p"j.h (. <'~ny other authorized ai(E:llCJ or the UnitAd St.:'t .. ~~u on lth der-vice, or the ~tate
Boarc\ of Health and subject t o a.i.jplioable JsvJfJ e.nii. urdill£•nces relatin~~ to pois-
onous ::~ubste. ntences n nd fumie:&tors.
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SECTION 8. In oJ><l-3r t1) rJr:..~t<jCt bu~1 ne~!'i bui l ;;j_r,,. a f'rom who:tt i~ commonly
ladoer~, (Yr' "~n:1 vthc:;r object t.r.at u ret cuuld e"lSt1h .)n in order to reach the
roof of any busines.s builoint.:: 1 to laa.n again st. tl:•" sine or \"9.lls of such bus-
iness buildi ncs.
rrhe owner of busine~s huilJ.in~s snHll r.tls•.:.. ·~~rotor:t alevutor shafts 1 fire
esc9.P"3S s=~.nri £t1Y vJires i11 S\)e;h tu<::.Hn~r ·that r~ts 'i!Ul not be o.bl.;: to rain in-
gr~~R 1 nto any business bu1ld in::::.
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It shall be the duty 0f l'l.ny person in ch~.r€f e c;f .:=t bust ness huildi ng as
hdrein defined to tr11:t th.:; brflnches of all trees extendinf over ~nd against
any b us :1 n::>AS bnj ldin~, and 3Utilo shall be r.ut ':'. n t1 trhur.ed and kept trimmed
Rnd Cllt so -cht'lt no p~.rt vf ;..'.n.:;-lr:1.nch o r any .:····r·t oi' std ._: ·tree shall ba closer
thP.n 1 +.~n (10') feet tc any hu ~i n-J ss building , ~ nti tl1 .~ to.9~ of R 11 trees shall
be cut bac:( tan {10') feet frml'! ~ lin<7 exte~1-i i n!· (le rp endtcula rl-:,~ from any ex-
SECTIOU 9. ~lhen tl!B Ci1< h.-~·:··•t.h Ofticar or tha Diractor oi' Public Health
shall find a.ny builJ.inc, st·pnct\rce, or f.il'..;J.:i s r~": so 1t·.!•lvi.ly inf'~sted with rats
resulting in~-f'T'OBI'H!t •~~:~rv'c3 t\) LJHblic h0t-tlth, l1 c shall ha.ve authority to
nJosfi th e S8Jlle to F.l.ny occu.;•HiCY ol' use, untn , ... t,"-1 h~lve h1~on eradicated, or,,
SECTION 10. It sllall be unhnvful fnr '"~ 'lY .r)e1•::;1)'l to use or W\intliin any
bus ina ss bu l 16 i. n~s or llP·':lH ises i n ~m ch ma nne:: r th11 t a rat ha rborae:a is b1•ought
i.nto axb>teucc: <.n' maintai!t~d.
SECTION 11. It. sh? .. ll hn nn·l c.w ful for anj' per·son, 1'1 rnt o r corporAtion to
durup or place on any land OT' on e.ny water or '-"'l''lt.r'll'\11·-.y ;·~i.thin the City an~t dead
j:\ny food products whatsoav·.:.:·r.
SECTIOn lP.. No ~"'.rhq{;'e, -rnhbish, wast~ or mflnure shall be placed, left,
dll!.1ped, or permitted to 1\ocw:~nlote or ·remAin 1 n nr on ~nY huilding or premises
in this City so ~hAt s~rne Ah~ll or may afford food for o~ a harboring or breedii
me thods directed by the 01 t y l!E:<l L tl1 Or'fict:~r o ..:.· the :Uira ctor of Public Health.
Sf4~CTION 13. It sha .11 bd unlrn-v i'ul for any ~erson to permit any premises •
improved or uniru!Jrdved, anJ •lll \)~)en J nts tn1d .q Jl Bys in tha City of Lubbock,
to accumulate lwnber, boxes, bJ:\n•els, bricks or ston&s and similar materials
tba t may be parmi tted to remain thereon A n ci t}l'\t, Ttll'l.Y be used as a hs.rbora ~e
by re.ts, unlass S!1Jfle shall be plA cad on open rtt cl-\H t>. nd. alevated not less than
eig~en (18") 1nohes above tl'l~ ··.-round, vlith A cJ e .:;r 1.nt.ervening space under-
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neath, to prevent the harborage of rats.
SECTION 14. Penalty. -Any
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person who shall violate any provision Q~ . • ..
provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
upon conviction shall be punished by fine of not more than One Hundred · .. ·
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($100.00) Dollars. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense
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SECTION 15. Repeal Clause. -All ordinances or parts of ordinances ··in
·-..~ .. .-1,,
oontliot herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict onlY:~;:
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SECTION 16. Savings Clause. -If any section, subsection, sentence,·(·'
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clause or phrase:;of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitu-
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tional, void or invalid, the validity of the remaining portions of this
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ordinance shall not be affected thereby, it being the intent of the City . ·'
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Commission of the City of Lubbock in adopting and approving this ordinance>
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that · no portion hereof or provision or regulation contained herein shall :':.·;
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become inoperative or tail by reason of any unconstitutionality or invalidity
of any other portion or provision or regulation. .. . ";. ~ _ ... ,-,
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Passed and approved by the City Commission of the City of Lubbock, Texas·\~ ·
this 22nd __ day of March _, 1945.
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Passed and approved by the Oi ty Commission of the City of Lubbo.ck, '.L1exas,
second reading, this ~~~-day of ----~r.~1~1~----' 1945.
Attest:
~·~ I t
~/.It( ~
ity ~y. .
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