1. Certificate of Structure Compliance Required. It is unlawful for any person to let to another for rent and occupancy any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit, unless the owner or operator possesses a valid Certificate of Structure Compliance issued by the Building Department and applicable to those portions of the specific structure used for residential rental purposes. However, manufactured and modular homes may be exempt from this requirement, as set out in more detail in Paragraph 6 of this section.
2. Certificate of Structure Compliance. The Certificate of Structure Compliance shall be a permanent document (except as noted below) that, when issued, shall satisfy the requirements of Section 146.19. The Certificate of Structure Compliance shall be transferable at the time of a change in ownership. The Certificate of Structure Compliance shall not be interpreted as granting the owner or operator the privilege of letting the structure for residential occupancy unless it is accompanied by a valid rental permit. The Certificate of Structure Compliance shall state the date of issuance, the type of structure for which the certificate is being issued, and the address of the structure to which it is applicable. All dwellings, dwelling units, or rooming units being let for rent and occupancy without either a valid Certificate of Structure Compliance, or an application for the same on file with the City with fees paid, may be ordered vacated.
3. Application for Certificate of Structure Compliance. The owner or operator shall file an application for a Certificate of Structure Compliance with the Building Department on forms provided by the Building Department. Any owner or operator who does not reside within fifty (50) miles of the City shall be required to designate a contact person who resides within fifty (50) miles of the City who shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this Code.
4. Issuance of Certificate of Structure Compliance. When the provisions of Section 146.19 of this Housing Code have been met by the owner or operator, the Building Department shall issue a Certificate of Structure Compliance upon payment of a fee, the amount of which is set by resolution of the City Council.
5. Revocation of Certificate of Structure Compliance. The Certificate of Structure Compliance shall be permanent, except when there has been fraud, collusion or illegality in the inspection process applicable to the Certificate of Structure Compliance or when there exists a material and substantial noncompliance with Section 146.19 that directly affects the health and/or safety of the occupants therein. The rental inspector who believes that there exist grounds for revocation may revoke the Certificate of Structure Compliance. The owner or operator of the affected property shall be properly notified of the revocation.
6. Manufactured Homes.
A. If a manufactured home (commonly known as a mobile home) has a State of Iowa seal and therefore is registered in accordance with Iowa law, or otherwise is proven to have been constructed in accordance federal or state standards after February 1, 1973, it is exempt from the Certificate of Structure Compliance requirements and processes set out in this chapter when used as a rental unit.
B. If a manufactured home does not have a State of Iowa seal and has not been proven to have been constructed in accordance federal or state standards after February 1, 1973, and is occupied as a rental unit as of July 1, 2014, it will be considered a legal nonconforming structure as of that date. In such cases, it is exempt from the Certificate of Structure Compliance requirements and processes set out in this chapter, but is subject to the minimum safety standards set out in Section 146.04(6)(C) below.
C. Any manufactured home that is exempt from the Certificate of Structure Compliance requirements and processes pursuant to Section 146.04(6)(B) above shall be required to meet minimum safety standards no later than January 1, 2015. Said minimum safety standards are as follows:
(1) Units are properly anchored in accordance with State of Iowa requirements.
(2) Certification by qualified licensed contractor that heating units are safe to operate (no defects in the heat exchangers).
(3) Certification by qualified licensed contractor that unit is free of mold and exposed asbestos.
(4) Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (window or door openings in all bedrooms) per International Residential Code (“IRC”) Section R310.
(5) Means of egress requirements:
a. Egress doors (main entrance door requirements) per IRC Section R311.2.
b. Landings at egress doors (all exterior door openings) per IRC Section R311.3.
c. Stairs (exterior) per IRC Section R311.7.
d. Ramps (exterior ramps from door openings, if any) per IRC Section R311.8.
(6) Guardrails (exterior landing, decks and stairs) per IRC Section R312.
(7) Smoke detectors per IRC Section R314.
(8) Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors per IRC Section R315 (if any gas appliances in unit).
D. All manufactured homes remain subject to the rental permit requirements and processes set out in this chapter.