All lodging establishments shall be maintained to meet the following requirements:
(A) Lodging establishment grounds shall be free of excessive litter and have garbage properly stored in covered containers with tight fitting lids and be free of any collection of items that could harbor rodents, cockroaches or mosquitoes and:
(1) Shall have all walking and driving surfaces of the immediate exterior areas surfaced with concrete or asphalt, or other approved material to minimize dust.
(2) There shall be no conditions that constitute a public health nuisance as set forth by the State of Texas.
(3) Non-essential articles, items, or equipment that cause a public nuisance or harbors roaches, rodents or other vectors shall be removed.
(4) Outside garbage containers shall be cleaned at least monthly or as needed to prevent a nuisance or odor. Liquid waste resulting from cleaning the containers shall be disposed in a manner that does not create a nuisance.
(5) Animals shall be excluded from the laundry, linen storage, utensil washing, food service, single-service storage and ice machine areas except as provided by law.
(B) Lodging establishments shall be sealed and free of leaks and excessive water damage or mold. Construction surfaces shall be easily cleanable in good physical condition and with carpets and curtains in clean condition and free of excessive stains. Further requirements are as follows:
(1) Furnishings shall be maintained in good condition and clean. Items with excessive wear, tears, or stains shall be replaced.
(2) Each unit shall have trash removed, be vacuumed, and have smooth surfaces sanitized after each occupancy.
(3) Glasses, pitchers, ice buckets, and eating and cooking utensils in the kitchenettes shall be cleaned and sanitized after each occupancy.
(4) All rooms and bedding shall be free from an accumulation or infestation of insects or ectoparasites. If a room becomes infested with insects of any type, the room shall not be occupied until the infestation is controlled.
(5) Soap shall be provided with a dispensed liquid or with new, individually wrapped bar soap. Used bar soap shall be removed from the rooms when the guest ends the occupancy. Other toiletries provided by the lodging establishment which are opened by the guest, shall be removed when the guest ends the occupancy. Used soap and toiletries shall be discarded and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(6) A dispensed liquid soap shall be provided in all common and public bathrooms and toilets.
(7) Single service articles shall be replaced after each occupancy or when visibly damaged or the possibility of contamination exists.
(8) All toxic and hazardous substances shall be properly labeled with the common name of the content and appropriately stored to prevent contamination.
(C) Lodging establishments providing ice shall only produce ice from potable water and such shall be handled in a sanitary manner including that:
(1) Ice shall be free from visible trash and sediment.
(2) Ice shall not be made or stored in an owner's or manager's private refrigerator and/or private living areas.
(3) Ice that is not produced at the lodging establishment shall be obtained from an approved source, shall be properly labeled and protected from contamination during transportation and storage.
(4) Ice machines shall be of sanitary, durable, corrosion- resistant, and easily cleanable construction.
(5) Ice machines shall be kept sanitized and in good repair.
(6) Ice storage bins shall be drained into an approved sewage system and must have a physical air gap.
(7) When replacement of a self-service ice machine becomes necessary or additional machines are added, an automatic self-serve ice dispensing machine shall be installed.
(8) Ice machines shall be located in a place, which provides protection from the elements and possible sources of contamination. Exterior storage spaces shall provide, at a minimum, overhead protection. The area shall be kept clean and shall be free of accumulation of excessive moisture, drippage, or trash.
(9) Vending and ice machines shall be sanitized; with an ice scoop available and installed with a drain that includes a physical air gap to prevent back-siphonage. All ice machines with storage bins shall be equipped with an ice scoop that is attached to the ice bin with a tether of easily cleanable material. The tether shall be of such a length to prevent the scoop from touching the ground and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(10) All lodging establishments with customer service ice machines in common areas prior to the adoption of these rules shall have automatic self service ice dispensing machines upon replacement. This requirement excludes kitchenettes and icemakers in refrigerators.
(D) All linens, towels, and laundry shall be provided in a clean sanitary condition without excessive stains or damage. In addition the following are required:
(1) During laundering; clean linens, towels, and laundry shall be kept in separate carts and stored away from soiled linens, towels, and laundry.
(2) Shall be protected from dust, dirt, vermin, or other contamination at all times.
(3) Linens shall be changed to clean linens after each occupancy in preparation for a different occupancy.
(E) Lodging establishments with non-guest laundry facilities shall be restricted to the washing and drying of linens, towels, uniforms, and aprons necessary to the operation of the lodging establishment. In addition the following are required:
(1) If such items are laundered on the premises, a commercial washing machine and dryer shall be provided and used in accordance with this section.
(2) Equipment shall be installed according to manufacturer’s instructions.
(3) Laundry facilities shall be separated from any other permanent living quarters by complete partitioning and solid self- closing doors.
(4) Traffic through or use by guests of the non-guest laundry facility is prohibited.
(F) Should separate laundry facilities be provided for the use of the lodging establishment guests, these shall be located in a different room or area of the lodging establishment than those provided for commercial laundry purposes. These facilities shall be clean and maintained in good repair.
(G) Fire safety of lodging establishments shall be the responsibility of the manager/operator and be in accordance with the applicable code and/or ordinance. In addition, the following are required:
(1) Shall have proper fire extinguishers available, fully charged, and have current inspections as required by current city code.
(2) Portable outside cooking grills of any type shall be no closer than ten feet from any enclosed or combustible structure.
(3) Only professionally installed and inspected cooking ranges with approved venting for kitchenettes shall be allowed in lodging establishments.
(4) Individual rooms may have a microwave oven and/or a coffee/ tea maker; kitchenettes are exempt from this limitation.
(5) Corded cooking or heating devices such as portable hot plates, or crock pots shall not the allowed in rooms unless they are the property of the lodging establishment provided for extended stay guests and the room has a kitchenette. Corded cooking equipment provided by the lodging establishment must be kept in good condition. The operator shall either post signs; state this policy verbally; provide in writing during check-in procedures; or provide this information within the guest services book within each guest room to comply with this section.
(6) Storage and equipment rooms must be organized with all flammables properly labeled with common names.
(7) Rooms where fuel burning appliances are used shall be properly vented in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications and carbon monoxide monitors shall be provided in these rooms.
(8) Rooms shall have and maintain, in operating condition, an approved battery or electrically operated smoke detector device in each guest room. Owner and operators shall be required to test each smoke detector at a minimum of two times each calendar year to determine if each detector is in working order. Records of the testing shall be maintained and provided to the public health inspector upon request.
(9) Emergency phone numbers including 9-1-1, fire, police, and first aid equipment must be available at the front desk.
(10) Records shall be kept of all accidents or injuries of guests and employees that occur on the premises of a lodging establishment.
(H) Should swimming pools, spas, and similar facilities be installed; they shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the applicable code. Swimming pool water shall only be disposed of into an approved sanitary sewer.
(I) Insect and rodent control.
(1) Every lodging establishment shall be constructed and maintained in such a condition as to prevent the entrance, harborage, or breeding of insects or rodents. Openable windows shall be screened and be in good condition without cracks or missing seals and shall be in good working order. Screening material shall be 16 mesh to the inch.
(2) Professional pest services shall be used for preventative maintenance and for control and elimination of the presence of pests, or the health official may approve the following:
(a) For the control of bed bugs, a lodging establishment may self-treat with commercial-grade heat-treating equipment. The person administering the heat treatment must be able to demonstrate knowledge of how to use equipment and also have in their possession a manufacturer’s manual for the operation of the heat treating equipment. If knowledge cannot be demonstrated, the lodging establishment’s right to self-treat shall be revoked, and a professional pest control company shall be required for treatment.
(b) In the case the facility is not successful in self- treating for bed bugs, the health official shall require professional pest control and a pest management program.
(3) Removal. Dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, and other pests shall be removed from pest control devices and the premises at a frequency that prevents their accumulation, decomposition, or the attraction of pests.
(4) If bed bug evidence is found in a guest room, a thorough inspection of the room is required to determine where bed bugs are harboring. The room shall be closed and treated. The treated room shall be inspected again after 48 hours to determine if there are any surviving bed bugs. If live bed bugs are found, the room shall remain empty and be inspected again at 72 hours. The surrounding units (on either side, above and below) shall be inspected for bed bugs also, as bed bugs can easily move through walls to adjacent rooms. Each room that has evidence of bed bugs shall be closed and treated until no evidence of bed bugs is found.
(J) Lodging establishments shall, in general, be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, in good repair, and shall be maintained and operated with strict regard to health and safety of the transient or permanent guest. Extended stay guests at all lodging establishments shall be moved to a new room after seven days to allow cleaning and sanitization of the guest room and bathroom if housekeeping service is not provided at a minimum of once per week or facility repairs are necessary to adhere to these rules.
(K) Records shall be kept for a period of no less than 90 days of the cleaning frequency of rooms that are used for extended guest stays, noting last cleaning performed and any room damage or repairs.
(Ord. 782, passed 7-19-10; Am. Ord. 1029, passed 10-17-22)