A. Specific Standards: Rooming houses shall conform to all the requirements and provisions of this chapter, and to any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, with the following exceptions or additions:
1. At least one flush water closet, one lavatory basin, and one bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the building inspector and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each six (6) persons or fraction thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family whenever they share the use of the said facilities. In a rooming house in which rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half (1/2) the required number of water closets.
a. All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities.
b. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times.
c. No such facilities shall be located in a basement except by written approval of the building inspector.
2. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least seventy (70) square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least fifty (50) square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
3. The preparation and cooking of food shall not take place in any rooming unit.
4. The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once a week, and prior to letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible for maintaining all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner.
5. The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors, and ceilings, and for maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming house; and he shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased or occupied by the operator.
6. Every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level as required by laws of the state and the city.
7. Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, except to the extent that any such provision may be found in conflict with the laws of the state or with the lawful regulations of any state board or agency. (1985 Code ch. 4 § 7-10)
B. Permit Requirements:
1. Issuance; Fee: Every person operating a rooming house shall secure from the city clerk a rooming house permit. Such permit shall be issued only when the building inspector finds that the rooming house is structurally sound, free from fire hazards, and in conformance with all provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
a. This permit shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous place within the rooming house. (1985 Code ch. 4 § 7-11)
b. This permit is nontransferable. A fee of twenty nine dollars ($29.00) shall be charged for the permit. Every person holding such a permit shall give notice in writing to the building inspector within twenty four (24) hours after sold, transferred, given away, or otherwise disposed of interest in, or control of, the rooming house.
c. Every rooming house permit shall expire on June 30 each year following its date of issuance, unless suspended or revoked as hereinafter provided. Fee for issuance shall be prorated for portions of full month increments to annual expiration. (1985 Code ch. 4 § 7-11; amd. 2016 Code)
d. Any person whose application for a permit to operate a rooming house has been denied may request and shall be granted a hearing on this matter before the board of appeals under the procedure provided in title 10, chapter 10, article A of this code.
2. Suspension: Whenever upon inspection of any rooming house the building inspector finds that conditions or practices exist which are in violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant hereto, the building inspector shall give notice in writing to the operator of such rooming house that unless such conditions or practices are corrected within a reasonable period, the operator's rooming house permit will be suspended. At the end of such period, the building inspector shall reinspect such rooming house, and if he finds that such conditions or practices have not been corrected, he shall give notice in writing to the operator to immediately cease operation of such rooming house, and no person shall occupy for sleeping or living purposes any rooming unit therein.
3. Procedure For Appeal: Any person whose permit to operate a rooming house has been denied or suspended, or who has received notice from the authorized city official that his permit is to be denied or suspended unless existing conditions or practices at this rooming house are corrected, may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter as provided in title 10, chapter 10, article A of this code; provided, that if no petition for such hearing is filed within ten (10) days following the day on which such permit was suspended, such permit shall be deemed to have been automatically revoked. (1985 Code ch. 4 § 7-11)