(A) Compliance. No person shall operate a rooming house or occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house, except in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter, excepting, however, the provisions of § 150.40(A) and such other sections which, by their terms, do not apply to rooming houses.
(B) Provisions also applicable to hotels. Every provision of this subchapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, except to the extent that any such provision may be found in conflict with the laws of this State or with the lawful regulations of any State Board or Agency.
(C) Permit required; display; transfer; expiration.
(1) No person shall operate a rooming house unless he holds a valid rooming house permit issued by the Building Commissioner for the specific dwelling or dwelling unit. The operator shall apply to the Building Commissioner for such permit, which permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner upon compliance of the operator with the applicable provisions of this subchapter. This permit shall be displayed in a conspicuous place with the rooming house at all times. The charge for such permit shall be $10.
(2) No such permit shall be transferable. Every person holding such permit shall give notice in writing to the Building Commissioner within 24 hours after having sold, transferred, given away or otherwise disposed of ownership of, interest in or control of any rooming house. Such notice shall include the name and address of the person succeeding to the ownership or control of such rooming house.
(3) Every rooming house permit shall expire at the end of one year following its date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended for any violation of this subchapter.
(D) Permit application denied; hearing. Any person whose application for a permit to operate a rooming house has been denied by the Building Commissioner may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Building Commissioner in a like manner and in accordance with the provisions of I.C. 36-7-9-7.
(E) Bathroom Facilities. At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or showers properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Posey County Board of Health, and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each eight persons or fraction thereof, residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family wherever they share the use of the facilities; provided that, in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half the required number of water closets. All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing the facility. Every lavatory basin and bathtub and shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times. No such facilities shall be located in a basement except by written approval of the Building Commissioner.
(F) Linens. The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once each week, and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bed linen in a clean and sanitary manner.
(G) Sleeping rooms floor space. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
(H) Means of egress. Every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level, as required by the laws of this State and City.
(I) Operator responsible for sanitary conditions. The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors, ceilings, and for maintenance of a sanitary conditions in every other part of the rooming house. He shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased or occupied by the operator.
(Ord. 79-49, passed 11-26-79)