(A) As used in this Chapter, the following words or phrases have the meaning prescribed below:
(1) "C.O.L." means the Codified Ordinances of Lima.
(2) "Department" means the City of Lima Department of Housing and Neighborhoods or any successor Department.
(3) "Director" means the Director of the City of Lima Department of Housing and Neighborhoods, or the Director's designee.
(4) "Housing Unit" means any structure or part of a structure that is used as a home, residence, dwelling, or sleeping place, including but not limited to single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and four-plexes; multi-family units, apartment units, condominium units, rooming-house units, micro dwelling units, housekeeping units, single-room-occupancy units, accessory-dwelling units, and any other structure being used for living accommodations.
(a) The inclusion of any type or part of a structure in this definition of Housing Unit shall not mean that it is otherwise legally permissible to use the structure or part thereof as a living unit.
(5) "Owner" means any person or legal entity having a fee simple interest, or other legally controlling interest in a property, recorded in the official records of the Allen County, Ohio Recorder as holding legal title to the property, or otherwise having lawful control of the property pursuant to a court order or unrecorded agreement with the Owner. An "Owner" shall include the Vendee of a land installment contract that complies with Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5313.
(6) "Property Agent" means one or more persons who reside in Allen County, Ohio, or an adjacent county, who agree to serve as the Owner's representative or agent solely for contact purposes by any City of Lima representative regarding the Rental Housing Unit.
(7) "Registered Rental Housing Unit" means a Rental Housing Unit for which a Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate has been issued under this Chapter.
(8) "Registration Form" means the document approved by the Director for an Owner to use to register a Rental Housing Unit.
(9) "Rental Housing Unit" means a Housing Unit that is not occupied by the Owner as a Housing Unit.
(10) "Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate" means the document issued by the Director that certifies an Owner has complied with the requirements of this Chapter for registration of a Rental Housing Unit, and therefore provides the Owner with the authority to rent that Housing Unit.
(11) "Unfit for human occupancy" means a finding by the Director that the property meets the definition thereof, as established in C.O.L. 1816.02.
(Ord. 250-23. Passed 1-2-24.)