(a) In General. An applicant for a housing or vacant property license shall:
(1) Submit to the Building Commissioner or his or her designee (as used in this section, "Building Commissioner") an application on a form prescribed by the Building Commissioner; and
(2) Except as provided for in division (a)(3) of this section, in the case of an application for a housing license, certify that the applicant or an agent of the applicant has complied with at least two of the following requirements if the applicant has not had a housing license declared null and void pursuant to Section 1306.48:
A. That the applicant uses a written rental agreement as defined in Section 5321.01(D) of the Ohio Revised Code; or
B. That the applicant uses a reputable tenant screening agency for criminal and eviction background checks; or
C. That the applicant or agent of the applicant has within the past two years attended a landlord-tenant informational seminar approved by the Building Commissioner; and
(3) In the case of an application for a housing license, if the applicant has had a housing license declared null and void pursuant to Section 1306.48 in the previous two years, certify that the applicant or an agent of the applicant has complied with all three of the requirements in Section 1306.44(a)(2) and demon- strate compliance with all outstanding citations or correction notices issued pursuant to Chapter 1306 and with any outstanding fines or assessments issued pursuant to Chapter 510; and
(4) In the case of an application for a vacant property license, a copy of the declarations page for at least one policy of liability insurance covering the property and acknowledging that the property is vacant; and the combination to a Knox Box system or such other rapid entry system of comparable quality authorized by the Chief of Fire containing keys necessary to aid the Division of Fire in obtaining access to the structure when responding to calls for an emergency service; and
(5) Pay to the Building Commissioner the application fee established by this section.
(b) Required Application Information. In addition to any other information required on an application form, the application form shall require:
(1) The applicant's name and the address of the applicant's principal place of business; and
(2) A description of the dwelling structure and the structure's address, including unit numbers; and
(3) The name and address of the property manager, resident agent or trustee, when applicable; and
(4) The name and address of an adult individual who is a resident of Ohio and is designated as the applicant's agent for receiving service of process, notices or any other papers from the City; and
(5) In the case of a housing license, the full names of all adult tenants and the number of minor tenants living in the residential unit as of the date the application is tendered to the City and, if applicable, the dwelling unit numbers in which the tenants reside; and
(6) The name and telephone number of the person or entity responsible for sidewalk snow removal, grass cutting, and the removal of garbage containers from the tree lawn; and
(7) A statement by the applicant certifying, for each dwelling unit in the structure, that the applicant has personally witnessed within the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the application that:
A. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and operational pursuant to Chapter 1331; and
B. No visible electrical or other hazards are present; and
C. In the case of a housing license, there is hot and cold running water in the kitchen and each bathroom with no leaks below the sink area and all toilets flush; or in the case of a vacant property license, the plumbing has been winterized to prevent the freezing of pipes; and
D. In the case of a housing license, the heating system is operational; and
E. Railings are present on interior and exterior stairs as required by applicable code; and
F. No readily observable conditions exist that represent a threat to the health and safety of an occupant.
(8) In the case of a vacant property license, a statement by the applicant that all utilities to the structure have been disconnected, including electric service, which shall be disconnected at the utility pole, unless the applicant states that the structure is being actively marketed for sale.
(c) The issuance of a housing or vacant property license upon the satisfaction of the conditions in this section shall not in any way be construed as City approval or determination as to the condition or livability of the unit or structure.
(d) Change of Information. The applicant shall inform the Building Commissioner in writing of any change in the information provided under subsection (b) of this section not more than 30 days after the change is made.
(e) Corporations and Limited Liability Companies. If the applicant is a corporation or a limited liability company, an officer of the corporation or managing member of the limited liability company shall provide the information required under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(f) Other Business Entities. If the applicant is an association or partnership, a member or partner shall provide the information required under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(Ord. 18-18. Passed 10-1-2018; Ord. 14-2024. Passed 7-15-2024.)