(A) No owner of real estate within the city shall permit the real estate to be leased for any purpose that includes any person using the premises as their living quarters until a rental certification for each rental unit in a building has been obtained. No rental certification shall be required for a manufactured, or modular home occupied by the owner of same who does not own the real estate on which the manufactured, or modular home is located.
(B) A rental certification shall be obtained by making an application, on forms provided by the city, at the Office of the Code Enforcement Officer, and by paying an annual certification fee of $100 for each rental dwelling unit and an annual fee of $300 for each hotel/motel and rooming house. The fees shall be submitted at the time application is made. At the time application is made, the owner of the real estate shall supply their mailing address, street address of die property being certified, the nature of the rental building, or unit, and any other information which may be required to assist in the inspection, and enforcement of this subchapter.
(C) The owner or the owner’s representative shall be entitled to 72 hours’ written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer prior to conducting an inspection. In the event the owner, or the tenant, if occupied, refuses to allow the inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer shall apply for a warrant to make the inspection.
(D) After an inspection is complete, and the rental unit is determined to be in compliance with this subchapter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue to the owner a certificate.
(E) Each certificate shall be valid for a period of two years except those certificates for a hotel/motel or rooming house shall be valid for one year. Certificates shall be renewed by its expiration date by submitting the application fee to the Office of the Code Enforcement Officer. In the event that the application fee is not paid within 30 days after the expiration date, a late fee of $100 dollars will be assessed, and the renewal will be retroactive to the prior expiration date. Certificates issued shall be valid for the specified period commencing on the anniversary date of the original expiration date, and not as of the date of payment. Payment of the certificate fee shall not be considered a defense to any action filed by the city to enforce the provisions of this subchapter if such action was filed prior to payment of the application fee.
(F) The rental certification applies to the rental unit and not to the owner of the property. However, within 30 days of the sale of equitable or legal title to any property certified under this subchapter, any person acquiring equitable or legal tide shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer of their name, mailing address, and the address of the property acquired. No new application fee shall be due until the expiration date of the current certification.
(G) Each owner of a rental unit warrants at each change of tenant that the rental unit meets the certification, and inspection requirements set forth in this subchapter. This warrant is implied in the very act of renting the unit, and liability for it may not be removed by any act, or agreement, either written, or verbal of either the owner, or the prospective tenant.
(Ord. 2014-10, passed 7-15-2014; Am. Ord. 2014-15, passed 7-15-2014) Penalty, see § 154.99