(a) The owner of a premises with a rental unit shall have the interior and exterior of the premises, its structures and its rental units inspected semi-annually (twice yearly), for a minimum of four (4) years, to determine compliance with the Property Maintenance Code, under the following circumstances:
(1) If two (2) or more notices and orders to comply have been issued to the owner pursuant to the Property Maintenance Code, within any two (2) year period, concerning the same premises, and have not been complied within the time provided in the notices and orders to comply, the premises that was the subject of the notices and orders to comply shall be subject to semi- annual mandatory inspections as specified in this section;
(2) If the owner has been convicted of a violation of the Property Maintenance Code, the premises that was the subject of the violation shall be subject to semi-annual mandatory inspections as specified in this section; or
(3) If the owner has had a premise ordered demolished pursuant to the Property Maintenance Code, and the owner has not complied within the time provided in the order, the premises that was the subject of the order shall be subject to semi-annual mandatory inspections as specified in this section.
(b) A notice and order to comply that it is issued after the effective date of this section, may constitute an uncomplied notice and order to comply for purposes of enforcement of the semi- annual mandatory inspections required by subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(c) A conviction that was obtained on or after the effective date of this section shall constitute a conviction for purposes of enforcement of the semi-annual mandatory inspections required by subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(d) A demolition order that is issued after the effective date of this section shall constitute a demolition order for purposes of enforcement of the semi-annual mandatory inspections required by subsection (a)(3) of this section.
(e) No owner of a rental unit shall fail to obtain a rental unit mandatory inspection from the Code Official when the provisions of this section require a rental unit mandatory inspection.
(f) A rental unit semi-annual mandatory inspection fee, per rental unit, which shall include the first two inspections semi-annually, shall be imposed as follows:
(1) A fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a premises with one (1) rental unit;
(2) A fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for a premises with two (2) rental units;
(3) A fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a premises with three (3) rental units;
(4) A fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a premises within four (4) rental units; and
(5) A fee of two hundred sixty-five dollars ($265.00) for the first rental unit on a premises with five (5) or more rental units, and a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per rental unit for each additional rental unit on the premises.
(g) A rental unit mandatory inspection re-inspection fee, per rental unit, for each re- inspection semi-annually subsequent to the first two inspections semi-annually, per rental unit, shall be imposed in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(h) If a person fails, neglects or refuses to pay a rental unit inspection or re-inspection fee required by subsection (f) or (g) of this section within thirty (30) days of being notified of the fee, then the Code Official shall so notify the Director of Finance. The Director of Finance shall certify the fee to the County Auditor. The County Auditor shall enter the amount on the tax duplicate of the county as a special assessment against the person’s real estate at issue.
(i) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited with the Director of Finance under the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement line item and used to cover the costs of implementation of this Chapter and related expenses.
(j) If a person refuses to permit access to a premises with a rental unit under this section, then the Code Official with the assistance of the Law Director may obtain an administrative warrant in order to gain access as provided for in Section 1197.03
of this Chapter.
(Ord. 2014-51. Passed 7-8-14.)