(A) The landlord’s obligation for meeting the requirements, standards and responsibilities as set forth in this chapter may be altered or modified in a valid written contract between the owner and an occupant which divides these responsibilities in manner different from the manner set forth in this chapter, only with respect to a single-family home or duplex, as prescribed by F.S. § 83.51, as presently written or as may be amended from time to time.
(B) Owners and/or operators of single-family, multi-family dwellings, boarding houses, rooming houses and all other structures and premises governed by this section shall be responsible for the requirements, standards, and responsibilities as set forth in this section and all applicable building, zoning, housing and health codes, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise.
(C) Prior to leasing any dwelling unit or dwelling structure, and upon every change in tenancy of same, the owner shall, prior to leasing or re-leasing the dwelling, comply with the following requirements:
(1) Meet all standards, responsibilities and requirements set forth in this chapter and contained in § 96.26.
(2) Dwellings shall be in a clean, sanitary and habitable condition.
(3) Dwellings shall be free from infestation of vermin.
(4) Walls and ceiling shall be painted or wallpapered or otherwise finished so as not to be in a deteriorated condition.
(5) All provided carpeted areas shall be in a clean and nondilapidated condition.
(6) Clean and/or repair to a properly installed or maintained condition, all required or supplied facilities and/or equipment, to include but not limited to, appliances, cabinets and plumbing fixtures.
(D) At the commencement of the tenancy of any rental housing unit governed by this chapter, the landlord shall install working smoke detection devices, in compliance with NFPA requirements, or test, inspect and ensure that any such previously installed devices are properly maintained and in good working condition. As used in this paragraph, the term "smoke detection device" means an electrical hard-wired device which detects visible or invisible particles of combustion and which is listed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc., or any other nationally recognized testing laboratory using nationally accepted testing standards. In single-family and two-family dwellings existing prior to January 4, 2002, approved smoke alarms powered by batteries shall be permitted.
(E) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (D) above, owners of single-family homes which are utilized for rental purposes and which provide housing for eight or more persons, shall provide an approved fire alarm system meeting the requirements of NFPA which contains the ability to be monitored and which is connected to a monitoring service. The system must provide for the detection of smoke and heat within the home. Said systems in homes that utilize any gas appliances must also provide for the detection of carbon monoxide. To ensure operational integrity, the fire alarm system shall have an annual approved maintenance and testing program that complies with the applicable requirements of the NFPA. Copies of records of conducted maintenance, testing and certificates of compliance shall be maintained for inspection by the city. Said requirements may be pre-empted by other Federal or state fire regulations governing the specific use or occupancy of a premises, but only to the extent of any such pre-emption. The provisions of Subsection (B) above shall not be applicable to this subsection.
(F) 24 hour contact person.
(1) Each owner shall have a contact person available on a 24 hour basis, seven days per week, and during periods in which the structure is being rented.
(2) The 24-hour contact person may be the owner, a property management company representative or local designated representative.
(G) Absentee owners shall provide the city with the name, physical or post office address, electronic mail address, if available, and telephone number of a local designated representative.
(1) The designation of a local designated representative shall be deemed to be authorization by the owner for that person to represent them at any code enforcement proceedings, unless indicated otherwise by the owner.
(2) Each absentee owner subject to the provisions of this ordinance shall receive notice of, and shall execute and file with the city, on a form approved by the city, that he/she/it has received a copy of educational materials which summarize codes and ordinances applicable to rental properties in the city.
(H) Prior to leasing any residential structure or dwelling unit, the owner of the rental structure or unit shall obtain a business tax receipt for such rental structure or unit, as provided in Section 113.41 of this Code, and shall obtain any other required zoning approvals.
(I) Pursuant to the provisions contained in § 132.37, property owners are prohibited from renting real property to sexual offenders and sexual predators, and are subject to the penalties for violations as provided therein.
(Ord. 96-67, passed 5-14-96; Am. Ord. 2008-55, passed 9-9-08; Am. Ord. 2012-62, passed 7-24-12; Am. Ord. 2013-25, passed 11-27-12; Am. Ord. 2014-47, passed 7-22-14; Am. Ord. 2017-50, passed 6-13-17)