(a) Application for a residential occupancy certificate required by the provisions of this Housing Code shall be made by supplying the information and data necessary to determine compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations for the existing use or occupancy, or the intended use or occupancy, on forms supplied by the Housing Inspector. The Housing Inspector may require the submission of an affidavit stating such information, and he may cause a general inspection of the structure or premises to be made. In the alternative, an applicant may supply an inspection report from a certified home inspection service dated within thirty (30) days of the date it is submitted, that the unit meets the minimum requirements of the Housing Code, is in a sanitary condition, in good repair, having a properly- installed and functioning heating system and electrical and plumbing service, and in other respects in compliance with all applicable health and safety codes and regulations including the International Code of Property Maintenance.
(b) In the event that the owner of a dwelling structure resides or is located outside of Ashtabula County, the owner shall designate in his application the name, current address and telephone number of an agent who is a natural person and who resides within Ashtabula County, and who is authorized by the owner to receive service of a notice of violation on the owner's behalf. An agent designated pursuant to this section shall be of sound mind and at least eighteen years of age. It shall be the owner's obligation to notify the Housing Inspector, in writing, of any change in the name, address and/or telephone number of the agent designated herein.
(c) If it is found that a building or other structure is in compliance with the provisions of this Code and all other laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable thereto, the Housing Inspector shall issue a residential occupancy certificate stating:
(1) The street address or other identifying characteristics of the building or other structure;
(2) The name, address and telephone number of the owner or owners of the premises. In the case of a partnership, the names of all general partners;
(3) If the record owner is a corporation, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the current statutory agent and corporate officers of such corporation;
(4) The name, address and telephone number of the managing agent of the premises, if any;
(5) The name, address (including the dwelling unit, apartment or room number) and telephone number of the superintendent, custodian or other individual employed by the owner or managing agent to provide regular maintenance service, if any;
(6) The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative of the owner or managing agent who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of an emergency affecting the premises or any unit of dwelling space therein, including such emergencies as the failure of a utility system or service, and who has the authority to make emergency decisions concerning the building and any repair thereto or expenditure in connection therewith;
(7) The use district within which the structure is located;
(8) The nature of the occupancy authorized; and
(9) That the building or other structure was found to be in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Code and all other applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
Such certificate shall not be valid beyond the last day of the twelfth month following the date of issuance, unless renewed prior thereto in the same manner as required for issuance of the original certificate of occupancy.
(d) Copies of all applications and residential occupancy certificates shall be kept on file by the Housing Inspector as a public record.
(e) The Housing Inspector shall have the power to revoke a residential occupancy certificate if any false statement is made by the applicant in connection with the issuance of such certificate, or for noncompliance of a structure with the requirements of this Code, or if the owner, agent or person in charge of a structure refuses to comply with any provision of this Code required for the use, maintenance and/or occupancy of a structure. Notice of revocation shall be given in writing, shall specify the violation(s) observed by the inspector, and shall include the following language: "The occupancy permit for this property has been revoked due to violations of the City of Ashtabula housing codes. Existing tenants must be given notices to leave the premises in accordance with law. If you believe that this revocation is unjustified, you may appeal the suspension to the Housing Appeals Board. Your appeal must be in writing and delivered to the Office of Planning & Community Development, 4717 Main Avenue, Ashtabula, Ohio 44004, within five (5) days of your receipt of this notice. A hearing will be held on your appeal within 30 days thereafter. The revocation of your permit will be stayed while your appeal is pending."
(f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit or stay orders of immediate vacation by appropriate authorities in order to protect any person from a condition which poses an immediate threat to health or safety.
(g) Should the name, address and/or telephone number of any person listed on a residential occupancy certificate pursuant to subsection (c)(2) through (7) hereof change, then the owner is required to give prompt notification of such change to the Housing Inspector within seven days after such change occurs. Should the owner fail to give written notification as required in this section, then the Housing Inspector may revoke the residential occupancy certificate until such time that the owner has provided in writing the changed name, address and/or telephone number.
(Ord. 2015-130. Passed 11-2-15.)