A. Well-maintained properties with no existing violations of building, housing and sanitation codes or ordinances or no past violations of building, housing and sanitation codes or ordinances within the past three (3) year period and that successfully complete an initial inspection by City inspectors may qualify to participate in the Residential Rental Dwelling Unit Inspection and Maintenance Self-Certification Program ("Self- Certification Program").
B. For qualifying participants, the number of inspections will be limited to twenty (20) percent of the total units on each property or limited to an inspection of one-unit total in residential rental dwelling units consisting of three (3) units, including multiple single family dwellings at separate locations, not more often than once every five (5) years, provided the residential rental dwelling units' conditions do not deteriorate during that time to the extent that the property would no longer meet the property eligibility standards. If violations are found, more or all of the owner's units may be inspected. The owner shall be required to pay an annual non-refundable Self- Certification Fee and conduct an annual self-inspection of each residential rental dwelling unit as discussed below.
C. Upon receipt of the request to participate in the Self-Certification Program, the Director shall determine if the residential rental dwelling units have not had any code violations over the past three (3) years. If the application qualifies the owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, shall pay the Self-Certification Program annual non-refundable fee and the Director shall schedule the reduced inspections as outlined in B. above for the next five (5) years.
D. In order to maintain eligibility in the Self-Certification Program, the owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, shall conduct an annual self-inspection of all the residential rental dwelling units, including exterior conditions and site conditions, and certify under penalty of perjury that the conditions at the property achieve the minimum standards listed on the Self-Certification Program Checklist. All information on said Self-Certification Checklist shall be submitted under penalty of perjury. Any person who makes a false statement in the Self-Certification Checklist or submits false information in connection with a Self-Certification Checklist shall be guilty of an infraction. The owner shall not be in violation of this section if the tenant or occupant refuses to allow the Self-Certification inspection by the owner. The owner shall provide the City a signed statement from the tenant/occupant that the inspection was refused. If the tenant refuses to sign the statement, the owner shall provide proof, under penalty of perjury, that a request to inspect was served and it was not permitted by the tenant.
E. If the Director determines that a residential rental dwelling unit is not eligible to participate in the Self-Certification Program, then all the residential rental dwelling units on a same property shall be inspected and the owner shall be assessed the full annual inspection fee established by resolution of the City Council.
F. Each owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, shall be required to maintain a copy of the annual signed and dated Self-Certification Program Checklist for each unit for the five (5) year period and provide said list within seventy-two (72) hours upon request of the Director or his/her designee. Failure to maintain complete signed checklists may result in disqualification from the Self-Certification Program for all rental properties of that owner for a period of up to three (3) years. A copy of the annual signed and dated Self-Certification Program Checklist shall be provided to the tenant(s) of each residential rental dwelling unit inspected within five (5) working days upon request of the tenant(s).
G. Nothing in the Self-Certification Program shall be construed or interpreted as limiting the City's authority to investigate and compel the abatement of any building, housing and sanitation codes or ordinance violations.
H. Any property that participates in the Self-Certification Program may be removed from the program for three (3) years, at any time if that property fails to meet all of the interior and exterior standards designated on the Self-Certification Program Checklist or fails to meet building, housing and sanitation codes or ordinances as defined in this Chapter. Each owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, will be given reasonable time by the Director to correct the violations and remain in the Self-Certification Program. This time period could be thirty (30) to ninety (90) days, however for immediate life safety violations the time lines will be less to address the urgency of the situation. Upon removal from the program, the difference between the Self-Certification Program fee and full annual program fee shall be due and payable.
[Ord. No. 534, 5/13/15; Am. Ord. 536, Section 1, 10/28/15.]