(A) No owner of real estate within the city shall use said real estate for the purpose of erecting or maintaining a rental unit thereon after November 30, 2011, without registering each rental unit with the city. All existing rental units shall be registered with the city between May 1, 2011, and November 30, 2011. The registration shall be affected by furnishing to the city a complete and accurate application upon forms prescribed by the city, setting forth the following information:
(1) The name of the owner;
(2) Address of the owner;
(3) Street address of the rental unit;
(4) If the owner is not a resident of Porter County, Indiana, or a county contiguous to Porter County, the name, address and telephone number of the owner’s agent authorized to receive notification of complaints, damages, emergencies, substandard conditions or other communications, including service of process. The address of any and all agents shall be within Porter County or a contiguous county. Any owner who does not reside in Porter County, Indiana, or a contiguous county shall be required to designate an agent.
(B) The registration application shall be signed by the owner. Whenever ownership of a rental unit or group or complex of rental units changes, the new owner shall have the responsibility to report the change in ownership to the city and pay a $5 administrative fee within 30 days of the change of ownership. Previously issued registration permits shall automatically expire 30 days following transfer of title to a registered property. A registration permit shall otherwise remain in effect until suspended or revoked as set forth in this chapter. Issuance of a registration permit is not evidence that a property meets the requirements of this chapter or is otherwise fit for human habitation.
(C) Notification to the owner or his or her agent at the address shown on the registration application shall constitute sufficient notice pursuant to any provision of this chapter. Registration of a rental unit shall be evidenced by issuance of a registration permit. An application for renewal of a registration permit shall contain the same information as an initial application.
(Ord. 14-2011, passed 4-11-11)