Dangerous buildings

(a) Whenever any structure abutting on any street or public footpath in Belmopan is considered dangerous to the passengers along such street or public footpath, the Corporation shall give notice in writing to the owner of that structure requiring him forthwith to take it down, or to 34 Belmopan City Council repair it, as the case may be, within a time specified in such notice. (b) Where any structure within Belmopan is considered by the Corporation to be ruinous or, so far dilapidated as to have become unfit for use or occupation, or to be from any cause whatever a structural danger to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, a notice may be served by the Corporation, on the owner of the dangerous structure requiring that person, within fourteen days of the service of the notice, to take down, repair, or to rebuild it or any part thereof, or to fence-in the ground on which the structure stands, or otherwise to put it into a state of good repair as the case may be, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, within a time specified in the notice. (c) Whenever it is made known to the Corporation that any part of a building, including any wall, partition or ceiling of any such building, is in such state of dilapidation prejudicial to any occupier of such building, or to any neighbouring building, the Corporation shall survey and examine the building, and upon the completion of such survey and examination, if it is satisfied that the structure is dangerous or prejudicial to any occupier, a notice shall be served in writing on the owner of the structure requiring that person forthwith to have it shored up, taken down, or rebuilt, as the case may require, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, within a time to be specified in the notice. (d) If the owner fails, within the time specified in any such notice served upon him under this by-law to comply with the requirements of the Belmopan City Council 35 notice, the Corporation may make complaint thereof before a magistrate, and the magistrate may order the owner to carry out the requirements of the notice within a time to be affixed by him in such order. (e) When the order directs the taking down of a neglected structure or any part thereof, the Corporation, in executing the order, may remove the materials to a convenient place. The expenses incurred by the Corporation under this by-law in relation to such removal of materials shall be paid within fourteen days by the owner of the building. (f) For any purposes of these By-laws, the expression “structure” includes any building; or part thereof, and any wall or fence, or other structure whatever, or anything affixed to or projecting from, any building or any wall or other structure, and the expressions “public street, road or highway” has the meaning assigned to them in any law for the time being governing public roads.