Auburn — Ch. 13 Art. VI Minimum Housing Standards § 13-106
Responsibilities of owners and occupants
Operative Text
The responsibilities of owners and occupants of a dwelling or dwelling unit are: (1) Every owner of a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof. (2) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he occupies and controls. (3) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his rubbish as required by ordinance of the City of Auburn. (4) Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his garbage and other organic waste as required by ordinance of the City of Auburn. (5) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises; and every occupant of a dwelling unit containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, whenever infestation is caused by the failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a ratproof or reasonably insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner. (6) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof. (7) Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall refrain, and shall prohibit other occupants or invitees within the same dwelling unit, from burning junk, scrap metal, or any other material. For purposes of this section, "material" shall not include wood, so long as burned within the dwelling unit's fireplace, pellet stove, or other like usage.
Auburn Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-106 divides cleanliness, sanitation, and pest-control responsibilities between property owners and the people who live in their units. Owners of multi-unit buildings must keep shared and common areas clean and sanitary, and they bear extermination responsibility when an infestation spreads to two or more units or stems from a structural deficiency. Occupants are responsible for keeping their own spaces clean, disposing of rubbish and organic waste according to city ordinance, maintaining plumbing fixtures with reasonable care, and refraining from burning junk, scrap metal, or similar materials (wood burned in a fireplace, pellet stove, or similar appliance is excepted).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Auburn Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-106, operators of buildings with two or more units generally maintain hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, and other shared spaces in a clean and sanitary state. Compliant owners also address pest extermination promptly when an infestation is found in two or more units or when the building's structural condition—such as gaps or unsealed entry points—is the contributing cause. Keeping records of routine inspections, sanitation services, and pest-control treatments helps document ongoing compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Auburn Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-106 establishes that occupants are responsible for the cleanliness of the space they control, proper disposal of rubbish and garbage per city ordinance, reasonable care of plumbing fixtures, and refraining from burning prohibited materials. When a pest problem originates from a building-wide condition or spreads across multiple units, the provision shifts extermination responsibility to the owner, which tenants may raise as a relevant point when reporting conditions to the City of Auburn's code enforcement office. Tenants who believe an owner is not meeting shared-area or structural obligations under § 13-106 may also consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand available complaint and enforcement paths.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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