(a) No multifamily dwelling complex shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification as defined by § 111 of the International Building Code or ownership of a multifamily dwelling complex, or any portion thereof, shall be made until the landlord has obtained a certificate of occupancy.
(b) Change of ownership or any event causing a certificate of occupancy to be revoked. Within 30 days after the change of ownership of a multifamily dwelling complex or the revocation of the certificate of occupancy of the complex, the landlord must obtain a new certificate of occupancy in order to continue operating. The complex, including all occupied and all vacant dwelling units, shall be subject to a complete ordinance inspection by the building official and the director before a new certificate of occupancy will be issued. If a certificate of occupancy is not obtained for all buildings in the complex within 30 days, the complex shall be vacated until such time as a certificate of occupancy is issued.
(c) Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of the minimum building standards code, this article, or of other ordinances of the city. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of the building code and other applicable ordinances shall not be valid. Changes in the character or use of a building shall not be made except as provided in the building code.
(d) The certificate of occupancy for all multifamily dwelling complexes shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises of the complex, and shall not be removed except by the building official.
(e) A landlord commits an offense if the landlord knowingly operates a multifamily dwelling complex in violation of this section.
(f) If the building official determines that the complex fails the ordinance inspection, all vacant units within the complex shall be posted for non-occupancy, and the landlord shall not allow the occupancy of such units until the complex passes final inspection and is issued a certificate of occupancy.
(g) The director may grant an extension if the landlord can demonstrate that no condition constituting an immediate fire or safety hazard exists and that the owner is working toward obtaining a certificate of occupancy in a timely fashion. A request for an extension of time must be made in writing to the director. The director must respond within ten days of receiving the request for an extension. Should the request be denied the landlord may within ten days file an appeal to the Fort Worth appeals board.
(Ord. 12791, § 1, passed 12-3-1996; Ord. 17827, § 2, passed 10-9-2007; Ord. 19998-12-2011, § 3, passed 12-6-2011)