§ 11-22-120. Public health, hospitals, quarantine, and environmental hazards.

A.  The municipal governing body may enact and enforce such ordinances, rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the protection of the public health, not inconsistent with state law; and may establish and regulate hospitals, and provide for their operation and support.  The governing body may make regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases into the municipality and may enforce quarantine laws within five (5) miles of the municipal limits.

B.  If the Department of Environmental Quality notifies a municipality in writing that certain vacant property presents an extraordinary environmental hazard to public health and safety, the municipal governing body is authorized to enact special ordinances restricting occupancy and use of the vacant buildings, vacant structures or land as necessary to protect against the extraordinary environmental hazard.  This includes, but is not limited to, the authority to restrict occupancy or use by classes of persons who may be especially vulnerable to the environmental hazard.  The municipal governing body is further authorized to restrict occupancy or use, by children or other especially vulnerable classes of persons, of property in areas or at locations with contamination by lead or other hazardous substances to such a degree that normal health and welfare of members of the class are at significant risk.

Added by Laws 1977, c. 256, § 22-120, eff. July 1, 1978.  Amended by Laws 2001, c. 352, § 1, emerg. eff. June 1, 2001.