(A) Every rental unit operated and maintained in the city may be subject to an annual inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer or his or her designee. The inspection shall be made to ascertain that the facility conforms to all of the requirements of this chapter and to any other ordinance of the city and all statutes of the state regarding such facilities.
(B) The Code Enforcement Officer and City Property Standards Board are authorized to enter, examine and survey all rental units at reasonable times. At reasonable times, the owner, owner’s representative and occupant of every rental unit shall give the Code Enforcement Officer or the Board free access to such rental unit and its premises for the purpose of such inspection, examination and survey, provided, however, that such Code Enforcement Officer has positively identified himself or herself as a person authorized pursuant to this chapter to enter upon the premises prior to entry thereof. At the time of each inspection, all pets must be controlled so that the Code Enforcement Officer can move about the rental unit and surrounding property without interruptions.
(1) The owner or the owner’s representative shall be entitled to 72 hours’ written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer prior to conducting the inspection, examination or survey. The owner or the owner’s representative shall be responsible for notifying the occupant of any rental unit of the inspection when he or she receives notice of the intent to inspect.
(2) In the event that the owner, or if occupied, the tenant, refuses to allow the inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer shall petition the City Property Standards Board for legal action.
(3) This provision shall not be construed to limit or restrain the right of the Code Enforcement Officer to make an inspection of any other building or premises.
(C) The Code Enforcement Officer shall issue to the owner after the inspected rental unit an inspection certificate as proof that the unit passed inspection. The inspection certificate shall be valid until the next inspection.
(D) If the Code Enforcement Officer finds that a rental unit fails to comply with any other ordinance of the city or any statute of the state, then he or she shall give notice of the alleged violation to the owner of the rental unit. The notice shall be in writing and shall reasonably describe the violation found. The notice shall further specify the date by which the violation must be corrected. The notice shall be served upon the owner or the owner’s representative and the occupant of the rental unit.
(E) Upon notification that a rental unit has not obtained a rental certification, the Code Enforcement Officer may inspect such premises upon 24-hour notification to the owner of the property for the purpose of determining if any inspection certificate is required. If access cannot be obtained, the Code Enforcement Officer may obtain an inspection warrant.
(F) At each change of occupancy, the owner or the owner’s representative shall provide the occupant with a copy of the inspection certificate. In the case of a hotel or rooming house, the inspection certificate shall be posted in a conspicuous place within the facility.
(G) Every occupant of a rental unit shall give the owner thereof or the owner’s representative access to any part of such rental unit or its premises at reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2020-11, passed 12-7-2020) Penalty, see § 152.99