(A) The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the community at large and the residents of residential rental properties in the city.
(B) The purpose of this chapter is also to ensure that rental housing in the city is decent, safe, and sanitary, and is so operated and maintained as not to become a nuisance to the neighborhood, or an influence that fosters blight and deterioration, or does not create a disincentive to reinvest in the community.
(C) The operation of a residential rental property is a business enterprise that entails certain responsibilities. Owners and operators are responsible for taking such reasonable steps as are necessary to ensure that the citizens of the city who occupy such rental properties may pursue the quiet enjoyment of the normal activities of life in their surroundings that are: safe, secure, and sanitary; free from noise, nuisances, or annoyances; and free from conditions that endanger the health or safety of persons, and the security of property.
(D) The city finds that a registration program is appropriate to effectively identify residential rental properties, gather contact information for property owners of residential rental properties, provide educational materials to property owners and occupants of residential rental properties, and to provide a more efficient system to ensure that the stock of residential rental property within the city is properly maintained.
(E) It is also the purpose of this chapter to provide a mechanism for a tenant, owner, neighborhood association or city resident to request the city inspect a rental dwelling or living unit for let or occupancy for compliance with the Building Code, Fire Code, city ordinances, and the Property Maintenance Code so as to not to become a nuisance to the neighborhood and/or community.
(Ord. 433, passed 4-19-18)