(A) Pursuant to Section 1 of the Lima City Charter, and the City's Home Rule authority under the Ohio Constitution, City Council may license and regulate persons, corporations and associations engaged in any business, occupation, profession or trade, and Council finds that the rental of residential premises is such a business, occupation, profession, or trade in need of the regulations as set forth herein.
(B) Pursuant to Section 1 of the Lima City Charter, and the City's Home Rule authority under the Ohio Constitution, City Council may define, prohibit, abate, suppress and prevent all things detrimental to the health, morals, comfort, safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the City, and all nuisances and causes thereof; and Council may do all things necessary to promote the health, convenience, comfort and welfare of its citizens and advance the physical standard of its citizenship.
(C) Pursuant to Section 1 of the Lima City Charter, and the City's Home Rule authority under the Ohio Constitution, City Council finds and declares that substandard residential rental housing causes lower property values, housing stock deterioration, neighborhood blight, and lowers the aesthetic quality of city neighborhoods, all of which is contrary to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Lima and therefore is a public nuisance subject to abatement and other powers and authorities as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(D) Council adopts the findings from a recent Lima Housing Assessment that the lack of a rental registry limits the City of Lima's ability to assess the availability and affordability of housing units across a range of unit sizes. Lack of regular maintenance on rental properties can jeopardize adjacent homeowners' investments in their properties. A rental registration program would better facilitate enforcement of the City's codes and regulations to protect and promote public safety, health and welfare.
(E) Council adopts the findings from the City's 2015-2019 and the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, filed with the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that identified the lack of a rental registry as a barrier to affordable housing in that it limits the City's ability to assess the availability and affordability of housing units across a range of unit sizes.
(F) Council further incorporates, finds, and adopts herein all of the provisions of the Preamble of Ordinance 250-23 enacting this Chapter.
(G) Council further finds that enacting this Chapter is necessary to so regulate the business of renting residential premises; abate the nuisances described herein; to protect the health, safety, and welfare of renters, homeowners, and the public at large; to promote the aesthetic condition and value of the City's housing stock; and to reduce physical deterioration and blight conditions that adversely impact the quality of life in the City.
(Ord. 250-23. Passed 1-2-24.)