(a) Responsibilities of Owners.
(1) Owners of premises are responsible to the City for compliance with this chapter, and shall remain responsible to the City therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators, lessees and/or occupants. This chapter is not intended to prohibit owners from entering into private financial arrangements with operators, lessees and/or occupants:
A. Under which operators, lessees and/or occupants are responsible to the owner for public utility charges for heat, electricity or water furnished to the premises;
B. Under which operators, lessees and/or occupants are obligated to contract directly with public utilities for heat, electricity or water and to pay to the public utilities the charge therefor; or
C. Under which operators, lessees and/or occupants are responsible to the owner for proper maintenance of the condition of the premises. However, such private financial agreements shall not abate the ultimate responsibility of the owner to the City.
(2) Owners of premises are responsible to the City for the condition of the premises being such that all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and residential buildings have available adequate heat, electricity and hot water supply.
(b) Responsibilities of Rooming House Operators and/or Lessees. Rooming house operators and/or lessees who themselves rent rooms to occupants are responsible for:
(1) Limiting the occupancy to the maximum permitted by all applicable ordinances and laws;
(2) The maintenance of safe and sanitary conditions in all parts of rooming house premises;
(3) The maintenance and operation of all required service facilities;
(4) The maintenance of cooking and refrigeration appliances and any other fixtures and appliances within their control, and all plumbing and other building equipment and facilities, in an operative, clean and sanitary condition;
(5) The sanitary maintenance of walls, floors and ceilings;
(6) Keeping exits clean and unencumbered;
(7) The disposal of building garbage and rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner;
(8) The extermination of insects, rodents or other pests on the premises; and
(9) The installation and maintenance of required screens and other protective or sanitary devices.
(c) Responsibility of Dwelling Occupants. Occupants of dwelling units are responsible for:
(1) Limiting the occupancy of that part of the premises which they occupy or control to the maximum permitted by applicable ordinances and laws;
(2) Maintaining that part of the premises which they occupy or control in a clean, sanitary and safe condition;
(3) Maintaining in a sanitary condition all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage, facilities in that part of the premises which they occupy or control, in a clean and sanitary condition, and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof;
(4) Keeping exits from their dwelling unit clear and unencumbered;
(5) The disposal of garbage and rubbish into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner;
(6) The extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within their dwelling unit if their unit is the only one infested in the premises;
(7) Keeping domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control and disposing of excrement with reasonable frequency; and
(8) Ensuring that no service, facility, equipment or utility, which is required to be supplied by the provisions of applicable housing codes, is removed, shut off from or discontinued for an occupied dwelling unit, except for necessary repairs, alterations or emergencies.
(Ord. 84-6. Passed 3-13-84; Ord. 13-11. Passed 6-26-13.)