§ 34-426. Definitions.

The following terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Approved means allowed or accepted by the board of health.

Certified pest control applicator means a person who is currently licensed by the department of agriculture in the State of Georgia to perform pest control for rats.

Commercial building or structure means any building or structure, whether public or private, that is adapted for occupancy, for transaction of business, for rendering professional service, for amusement or entertainment, for the display, sale, or storage of goods, wares or merchandise, for the performance of work or labor, including hotels, apartment dwellings, rental properties, rooming houses, office buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops, factories, and all outhouses, sheds, barns and other similar structures on premises used for business purposes.

Demolition means the act of demolishing, razing, tearing down, or destruction of any building or structure and the removal of all materials of same.

Board of health means the Fulton County Board of Health, the district health director, or its authorized representative.

Ectoparasite means a parasite, such as a flea, tick, mite, or other insect vector, that lives outside of and on the host body.

Effective barrier means any structure or materials used to rat-proof a building to exclude rats from entering.

Owner means the person(s) who has legal ownership of a building or property that also includes agents for the buildings or other responsible person(s) having custody or managerial control. In the case of a commercial structure or property leased or rented, with a clause in the contract specifying that the lessee or tenant is responsible for maintenance, repairs, or other work, then the lessee or tenant will be considered the "owner" and shall have the responsibilities of the owner of the building or property.

Person means any individual, permit holder, owner, partnership, corporation, or association, and may extend and apply to bodies including governmental agencies.

Rat means a commensal rodent (Rattus and related genera) differing from the related mice in biology and physiology.

Rat control means block sanitation, conducting community surveys, distribution of rat bait and/or rat traps, or other such methods as may be approved by the board of health to control rats.

Rat harborage means any condition under which rats may find shelter or protection, or any condition which is conducive to rat breeding on any property.

Rat-proofing means an effective barrier or form of building construction which will prevent the ingress of rats into buildings through the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roofs, sidewalk gratings, sidewalk openings, foundations, and other places that may be reached and entered by rats by climbing, burrowing, crawling, or otherwise.

(Ord. No. 09-0120, 1-7-09; Ord. No. 18-0340, Att. A, 5-16-18)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.