(A) Upon receipt of a written application for a license certificate or rental dwelling license, an investigation of the applicant’s business reputation and moral character shall be made.
(B) The application shall be approved unless this investigation discloses tangible evidence that the conduct of the applicant’s business would pose a substantial threat to the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare. In particular, tangible evidence that the applicant:
(1) Has made willful misstatements in the application; or
(2) Has committed prior violations of statutes or ordinances which directly relate to the occupation or which the license is sought; or
(3) Has committed prior fraudulent acts; or
(4) Has a record of continual breaches of solicited contracts; or
(5) Has an unsatisfactory moral character will constitute valid reasons for disapproval of an applications; or
(6) The applicant has pending against the applicant a citation from the Code Enforcement Officer/Zoning Administrator or a finding of a violation by the Code Enforcement Board which has not been resolved, including unpaid or outstanding fines; or
(7) The applicant has had three findings of violations made against the applicant by the Code Enforcement Board in a 12 month period preceding the application; or
(8) The applicant is not current in city taxes and/or fees.
(9) The applicant, if not a resident of Kenton County, Kentucky, fails to designate, in writing, to the licensing authority of the city, the name and address of his or her agent within the city, who is authorized to receive notice that there may be a violation of the provisions of this chapter, or for other service of process pursuant to this chapter.
(C) The following minimum standards and conditions shall be met in order to obtain and maintain a rental dwelling license:
(1) The rental dwelling shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Kentucky Building Code, Kentucky Standards of Safety, Nuisance Code, Property Maintenance Code, and Zoning Code.
(2) The rental dwelling shall not exceed the maximum number of units permitted by the Zoning Code.
(3) The rental dwelling shall not be overcrowded or illegally occupied in violation of any applicable code.
(4) The rental dwelling shall not have been used or converted to any other type of use in violation of the Zoning Code.
(5) The owner of the rental dwelling shall not be delinquent in the payment of any financial obligation owed to the city, including, but not limited to, occupational license taxes or other taxes, liens, and rental inspection fees.
(D) Failure to comply with any of these standards and conditions shall be adequate grounds for the denial, refusal to renew, revocation or suspension of any rental dwelling license following the procedures established by this chapter.
(E) When any rental dwelling license has been denied or suspended or has failed to be initially applied for or renewed, or when the license holder has failed to obtain a current rental dwelling license upon proper application, the city and/or its designee shall order the rental dwelling unit vacated, giving the tenants thereof a reasonable amount of time to arrange for new housing, not to exceed 60 days. No rental dwelling unit shall be rented again until the rental dwelling unit has been inspected by the city and/or its designee and the license holder or owner is properly licensed under this chapter.
(Ord. 2001-17, passed 1-10-2002; Am. Ord. 2011-6, passed 4-14-2011; Am. Ord. 2012-5, passed 3-8-2012; Am. Ord. 2014-10, passed 8-14-2014; Am. Ord. 2016-8, passed 11-10-2016)