(a) Certificate of Rental Property Occupancy Required. No owner or person in charge of rental property shall rent or lease rental property unless the owner holds a certificate of rental property occupancy issued by the Building Inspector, which certificate has not expired, been revoked or otherwise becomes null and void.
(b) Certificate Issuance, Contents, Term and Revocation.
(1) The owner of rental property shall apply for a certificate of rental property occupancy annually by supplying information requested by the Village on the application form provided by the Village. The information shall include but not be limited to:
A. The name, address and telephone number of each owner and, if applicable, each person in charge of the rental property;
B. If the owner is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, the name, address and telephone number of each shareholder, member, partner or other owner;
C. If the owner is not a resident of Ohio or is a foreign corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, the owner shall designate a person in charge who is an Ohio resident or which is an entity formed under the laws of Ohio;
D. The address of the rental property and the number of dwelling units contained on the rental property; and
E. The name and telephone number of each tenant and occupant residing in each dwelling unit on the rental property.
A post office box may not be provided as the sole address. An application shall be considered complete only when all information required on the application form is accurately, legibly and fully completed and any fee(s) due pursuant to section (e), below, are paid.
(2) If rental property is determined to comply with the provisions of this Chapter, the Building Code, and all other applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, the Building Inspector shall issue a certificate of rental property occupancy for the rental property. The certificate shall contain the street address or other identifying characteristics of the rental property; the name and address of each owner and, if applicable, the person in charge; the number of dwelling units on the rental property; and the time period for which the certificate is issued. A certificate of rental property occupancy shall be valid until December 31 of each year.
(3) The Building Inspector shall have the power to revoke a certificate of rental property occupancy if any false or misleading statement or information is provided on the application; for noncompliance of rental property with the requirements of the Building Code; if the owner or person in charge of the rental property fails, refuses, or does not comply with any applicable provision of this Chapter; or for any other violation of this Chapter.
(c) Failure to Apply for Certificate; Renewals. The owner of rental property shall annually apply for a certificate of rental property occupancy on or before January 31 of each year. If property which was not previously rental property becomes available as rental property during the year, the owner shall promptly apply for a certificate of rental property occupancy, but the property shall not be rented or leased until a certificate of rental property occupancy is issued.
(d) Availability of Certificate. The owner or person in charge of rental property shall have the certificate of rental property occupancy available at the property or otherwise readily available for exhibition to the Building Inspector or other Village agent upon request.
(e) Fees.
(1) An application for a certificate of rental property occupancy shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first dwelling unit on the rental property, plus ten dollars ($10.00) for each additional dwelling unit, subject to a maximum fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any one rental property regardless of the number of dwelling units.
(2) An application received after January 31 shall incur a late fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per month for each month or portion thereof that the application and/or fee is delinquent.
(3) All fees for certificates of rental property occupancy are nonrefundable.
(4) If the Building Inspector inspects a dwelling unit on the rental property more than once in a calendar year due to a dwelling unit not passing an inspection or otherwise, a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be charged for the second inspection and a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be charged for each subsequent inspection.
(5) The Building Inspector, in his reasonable discretion based on the facts and circumstances, may waive all or part of a fee required by this Chapter.
(f) Changes; New Certificate of Rental Property Occupancy.
(1) If there is a change in the person in charge of rental property from that shown on the certificate of rental property occupancy, the owner shall notify the Building Inspector in writing within fourteen (14) days of such change, and provide the name and address of the new person in charge.
(2) If there is a change in ownership of rental property, the certificate of rental property occupancy shall become null and void on the date of such change of ownership. The new owner must apply for a new certificate of rental property occupancy within fourteen (14) days after the change of ownership. The new certificate obtained under this subsection shall expire on the same date as that of the certificate which it replaces.
(3) If there is a change in any tenants of the rental property, the owner or person in charge of the rental property shall notify the Village in writing of the change in tenancy within fourteen (14) days of the change and provide the name and telephone number of each new tenant or occupant. If the owner or person in charge fails to do so, the certificate of rental property occupancy shall become null and void and a new certificate of rental property occupancy must be obtained. The new certificate obtained under this subsection shall expire on the same date as that of the certificate which it replaces.
(Ord. 3274-22. Passed 12-7-22.)