(A) Every owner of a rental unit in the city shall apply for and obtain a rental unit permit before leasing a rental unit to an occupant. The rental unit permit shall be in addition to the occupational license tax requirements of the city.
(B) Owners of short-term rentals are not required to obtain a rental unit permit for their residential rental space. Short-term rentals are considered a commercial business and must meet all applicable building, health, fire, and related safety codes.
(1) In addition to all other requirements, utility bills for short-term rentals shall remain the sole responsibility of the owner of the property and shall not be transferred to an occupant as defined in this subchapter.
(2) Owners of short-term rentals are solely responsible for compliance with the International Property Maintenance Code, the International Residential Code, Kentucky Building Code and/or other regulations adopted by the city.
(C) Application shall be made on a form furnished by the city and shall at a minimum set forth the following information:
(1) The physical address of the rental unit;
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the rental unit; and
(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner's agent, if any, employed to manage or maintain the rental unit.
(D) After receipt of a complete application, the city's designee shall:
(1) Issue a rental unit permit for residential spaces that are currently leased or occupied by a non-owner on October 15, 2023; or
(2) Complete a Rental Unit Permit Checklist approved by the City Council on unoccupied residential spaces prior to the rental unit being leased to an occupant.
(E) Every owner of a rental unit in the city shall notify the city within fourteen (14) calender days of any changes in address or any other changes that render the information supplied to the city in the rental unit permit application inaccurate.
(F) There shall be no fee charged for a rental unit permit, but there shall be a fee of five hundred dollars ($500) to reinstate any revoked rental unit permit.
(G) A rental unit permit shall be temporarily suspended if water service to a rental unit has been shut off or disconnected for more than thirty (30) calendar days. This temporary suspension shall be lifted, without an additional fee being imposed, once water service has been restored.
(H) A rental unit permit shall expire every three (3) years after issuance or upon a change in occupant, whichever is sooner. A valid rental unit permit shall be required at all times that a rental unit is leased to an occupant.
(I) City utility services shall not be turned on prior to issuance of a rental unit permit. No occupant shall occupy a rental unit for which no rental unit permit has been issued.
(J) A rental unit permit is nontransferable.
(K) A separate rental unit permit shall be required for each rental unit.
(L) No rental unit permit shall be issued regarding a rental unit for which there are delinquent city property taxes or assessments, unpaid city utility bills, unpaid city fines, or unpaid city liens.
(M) Beginning December 16, 2023, a Rental Unit Permit Checklist shall be completed by the city's designees:
(1) Prior to the issuance of a rental unit permit;
(2) Prior to revoked rental unit permit being reissued; or
(3) Prior to a temporarily suspended rental unit permit being reinstated.
(Ord. 10-23-1, passed 10-9-23) Penalty, see § 150.99