(A) Registration and License required.
(1) It is unlawful for an owner to lease, let or allow to be occupied as a residence any rental housing unit controlled by that owner in the City without first:
(a) completing, and submitting to the City a registration form therefor;
(b) The unit passing the inspection process; and
(c) Receiving a rental license for the unit from the City.
(2) Each owner filing a registration form thereby consents to be bound by all of the provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances of the City.
(3) Each tenant occupying a licensed unit within the City thereby consents to be bound by all of the provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances of the City.
(4) The City shall assign a number to each owner and rental unit (i.e. if Jackson HRA is registered as owner 32, then the HRA rental units will be registered as 32.01, 32.02, 32.03, and the like).
(5) The registration form shall be furnished by the City and shall set forth the following:
(a) Owner contact information;
(b) Local contact information;
(c) The mailing address of each rental unit to be registered;
(d) The type of each unit to be registered, i.e. single-family, duplex, apartment, sleeping room, and the like;
(e) The maximum number of occupants for each unit;
(f) Proof of liability insurance; and
(g) Such other information as the City may reasonably require.
(B) Tenant information. The owner shall:
(1) Keep a listing of all adult tenants;
(2) Make such listing available to the City on reasonable requests; and
(3) Provide to each tenant an information packet containing the booklet Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities distributed by the Attorney General’s office, a copy of this chapter, a copy of the inspection guidelines used pursuant to this chapter, and a “self-inspection” form.
(C) Existing rental units.
(1) Within 45 days of the effective date of this chapter, the owner shall register with the City each residential rental unit that he or she owns or administers.
(2) No rental license shall be issued for such unit until such time as it has completed the inspection process and is in compliance with all applicable ordinances, regulations, and statutes or has a plan for compliance approved by the City.
(3) It is unlawful for the owner to allow or permit a unit to be occupied after 60 days from the date of a failed inspection until such time as the unit is brought into compliance, the unit is re-inspected, and a rental license is issued for the unit.
(D) New rental units. No unit to be first occupied after the effective date of this chapter may be made available for such occupancy until:
(1) The unit is registered with the City;
(2) The inspection process has been completed;
(3) The unit is compliant; and
(4) A rental license is issued for the unit The City shall respond within five business days from the date of registration with the City.
(E) Transfer of ownership. In the event of the transfer of ownership of a unit by sale or otherwise:
(1) The transferor(s), prior to the transfer, shall provide to the City:
(a) The name, address and telephone number of each transferee; and
(b) The anticipated effective date of the transfer;
(2) The transferee shall register the unit with the City under the transferee’s name and pay all applicable fees within 30 days after the date of transfer; and
(3) If the rental license for the unit is valid and current and if the transferee so registers the unit and pays the fees, the rental license shall be transferred to the transferee.
(F) License expiration. The rental license shall expire at 12:00 o’clock midnight on the 31st day of December:
(1) Of the year next following the year of application, if the application is received by the City on or before the 30th day of June; or
(2) Of the year two years following the year of application, if the application is received by the City on or after the 1st day of July.
(Ord. 19, 6th Series, passed 4-3-2007; Am. Ord. 76, 6th Series, passed 2-19-2014)