(a) License To Operate Multi-Family Rental Structure:
(1) It is unlawful for any person to operate, maintain or offer to rent, within the village, a multi-family rental structure whether vacant or not, without first obtaining a license as provided in this article. The license shall be issued only to an "inspection group" (a building or group of buildings on the same parcel of land, owned by the same property owner).
(2) It is unlawful for a person to enter into a lease, either as lessor or lessee, for a multi-family rental structure if the premises is posted as being unlicensed or having a revoked license.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to occupy, renew a lease, offer for rent or permit occupancy of any vacant dwelling unit or any dwelling unit that becomes vacant in an inspection group that is unlicensed or while a license is under revocation.
(4) These licensing requirements shall not apply to the following structures:
a. Hotels and motels which rent rooms to occupants who typically make use of the facilities for a period of less than thirty (30) days.
b. Nursing homes, retirement centers and rest homes which are subject to licensing and inspection by the state or the federal government.
(5) A license for a multi-family structure cannot be transferred to another multi-family rental structure nor to a succeeding owner.
(b) License Application:
(1) Each applicant for a license to maintain a multi-family rental structure shall file a written application with the building department stating:
a. The full legal name, address, and home and work telephone numbers of each and every legal and beneficial owner.
b. The address of the multi-family rental structure.
c. The number of dwelling units within the structure.
d. In the case of an owner who is not a resident of the village then either:
1. The name, address and phone number of a duly authorized agent within the village with authority to accept service or notice of a violation; or
2. A statement by the owner that service by regular mail upon the owner at the address stated in the application will be considered sufficient service for all purposes.
(2) All license fees shall be due and payable on or before June 1 of each year. All licenses shall expire on May 31, next after the date of issue.
(3) Each license application shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in section 13-1 of this code, per unit for multi-family rental structures. If an application for renewal of an existing license is received after June 1, the fee shall be increased to that rate per unit as specified in section 13-1 of this code for late fees.
(4) Whenever there is a change in the ownership of a multi-family rental structure or a change in the owner's property agent, the owners shall, within fifteen (15) days of such change, file a written notice with the building department indicating such change.
(5) Application for license renewal shall be made in the same manner as a new application except that the application shall state that it is for renewal.
(Ord. 98-10, § 1, 3-9-1998; Ord. 2003-09, § 1, 4-14-2003; Ord. 2006-02, § 4, 1-9-2006; Ord. 2013-03, § 1, 3-25-2013; Ord. 2016-20, § 1, 5-23-2016)