A. It is unlawful for any person, as an owner, lessee, or agent thereof, to own, operate, or maintain any rental dwelling unit or ADU within the city without a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter.
B. If there is more than one owner, including purchasers under contract, each owner shall be jointly and severally liable to obtain the business license for a rental dwelling unit.
C. A business license for a rental dwelling unit or ADU is not transferable between persons or structures.
D. A business license for a rental dwelling unit shall not be required for a rental dwelling unit which is ordinarily owner occupied but is temporarily rented because:
1. The owner is placed in a hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or other similar facility; or
2. The owner has a bona fide, temporary absence of three (3) years or less for activity as temporary job assignments, sabbaticals, or voluntary service. Indefinite periods of absence from the dwelling shall not qualify for this exemption.
3. As used in this subsection, “owner occupancy” means:
a. A retired person who possesses fifty percent (50%) ownership or more in the dwelling and said dwelling is the primary residence of such person; or
b. A family trust created for the primary purpose of estate planning by a trustor who created the trust, placing the dwelling in such trust, and whose primary residence is such dwelling. (Ord. 10-33, 11-10-2010; amd. Ord. 23-01, 2-1-2023)