(A) Upon submission of a fully completed Registration Form for a Rental Housing Unit Registration, as determined by the Director, the Director shall issue a Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate, which shall be valid for five years from the date of issuance.
(B) A Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate shall serve as the license as required in C.O.L. Chapter 802, granting authority of the Owner to rent that Rental Housing Unit.
(C) Subject to the time line in C.O.L. § 872.05, no Owner shall rent a Housing Unit unless the Owner has been issued a Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate for that Rental Housing Unit.
(D) A Rental Housing Unit Registration Certificate must be renewed by submitting a registration renewal form, as approved by the Director, at least 30 days before the current registration expires.
(E) Notwithstanding any Rule promulgated by the Director pursuant to C.O.L. § 872.03, the Registration Form shall include a designation by the Owner of the name, address, email, and cell-phone number of one or more persons who reside in Allen County, Ohio, or an adjacent County, who agree to serve as the Owner's Property Agent solely for contact purposes by any City of Lima representative regarding the Rental Housing Unit. This requirement shall not apply to any Owner who lives within 30 miles straight distance measured from the City Building at 50 Town Square using any recognized Internet-based map program such as Google Maps™ as determined by the Director.
(1) Notwithstanding the identification of the Owner's Property Agent, all notices, findings, determinations, orders, and other communications regarding the Owner's obligations under this Chapter shall be served on the Owner, as set forth in C.O.L. § 872.03(C).
(Ord. 250-23. Passed 1-2-24.)