858.03 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.
   (a)   Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no owner or agent responsible for a rental dwelling shall let any rental unit in such dwelling without a valid certificate of compliance issued by the City after inspection (as conducted pursuant to Section 858.04).
   (b)   A certificate of compliance shall expire in accordance with the following guidelines:
      (1)   A certificate of compliance for a rental dwelling with five or more rental units let for occupancy shall expire two years after the date of issuance. The code official may choose to inspect only a portion of the rental units in such dwelling in order to issue a certificate of compliance, at the discretion of the code official. An inspection fee will be assessed only for the rental units that are actually inspected.
      (2)   A certificate of compliance for a rental dwelling with less than five rental units let for occupancy shall generally expire four years after the date of issuance. However, the certificate of compliance shall expire only two years after the date of issuance if the owner or agent responsible for the rental dwelling has been found to be in violation of this chapter within the last five years. Further, a four-year certificate of compliance may be amended to expire two years from the date of original issuance if the owner or agent is later found to be responsible for a violation of this chapter. If the amendment results in an expired certificate of compliance, a complete compliance inspection will occur and a new two-year certificate of compliance issued if the rental dwelling passes the inspection.
   (c)   A certificate of compliance authorizes occupancy only of the rental units that were let for occupancy as of the date of issuance. If new rental units are added by construction or conversion, the owner or agent must notify the City and obtain a new certificate of compliance before such rental units can be occupied.
   (d)   The City may refuse to issue a certificate of compliance for any rental dwelling owned by a person or entity with outstanding bills or liabilities to the City.
(Ord. 516. Passed 10-7-14.)