DWELLING. A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. A building with any dwelling let for occupancy joined to another dwelling let for occupancy at one or more sides by a party wall, floor or ceiling, including boarding houses, sleeping rooms, apartments, town homes, twin homes, duplexes or quad homes, wherein eating, cooking and sanitation facilities may or may not be shared in common spaces. Each private dwelling area for living and sleeping shall constitute a rental unit when other facilities of eating, cooking or sanitation are shared among tenants.
RENTAL UNIT. Any dwelling that is occupied by any tenants.
RESIDENCE. The primary dwelling where an individual lives and usually sleeps.
TENANT. Any adult person or emancipated minor who is occupying a dwelling under any agreement, lease or contract, whether oral or written, and for a period of seven or more consecutive or non-consecutive days in any month, whether or not such occupancy requires the payment of rent, the payment of utilities or the provision of services, for the use of the dwelling;
(a) A tenant shall not include any owner of record and an owner's natural children, adopted children, foster children, spouse, other blood relations, any significant other and any other dependent minors, residing with that owner as a family unit; significant other means romantic partner;
(b) A tenant shall not include a tenant's natural children, adopted children, foster children, spouse, other blood relations, any significant other and any other dependent minors, residing with the tenant as a family unit; significant other means romantic partner.
(B) License required. No owner of any rental unit shall permit the occupancy of any portion of a unit by any tenant unless that portion is licensed as required by this section and such license is posted in a conspicuous place inside the unit for the duration of occupancy.
(C) Licenses--application, procedure, type. The City of Virginia shall begin accepting applications for registration and license immediately after adoption of this section. Rental properties should begin the process of inspection and licensure early in the first year the property is subject to regulation. A provisional license will be issued upon completion of the application. Initial inspections will be scheduled as inspection staff is available. The inspection official will issue a certified license upon successful completion of the initial inspection. After the first year of this program, the license procedure will be as indicated below without the provisional license provision. Not having completed the application, inspection and licensure by the end of the first year a license is applicable shall be a violation of this section and the rental unit will be considered unlicensed and subject to penalties, fines or administrative action as contained herein.
(1) Applications for rental licenses shall be filed with the Code Official by the owner or the owner's agent and shall be accompanied by the required license fee. The Code Official may reject any incomplete application;
(a) Applications for license renewals shall be filed at least 90 days prior to license expiration;
(b) Upon receipt of a complete application and fees the Code Official may issue a license if the rental unit is eligible for licensure;
(2) Rental units which comply with the State Building Code (Chapter 1305) and have been constructed and certified for occupancy within one year prior to date of application and are otherwise eligible for licensure shall be issued a license for the initial licensing period without further inspection;
(3) All other rental units shall be inspected. The license fee shall cover general administration, the initial or renewal inspection, and one re-inspection, if required. Before a license is issued, a certificate of compliance from the designated inspector shall be required by the Code Official. Separate licenses shall be required for each rental unit. No license shall be issued unless the rental unit complies with the provisions of this section and all other applicable laws;
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any application for the renewal of an expired license shall be processed as a new license application and the rental unit must comply with all applicable laws;
(5) If a rental license lapses as a result of the failure to comply with this section, the license may be administratively reissued without regard to the provisions of divisions (C)(1) through (3) of this section for a period not to exceed 180 days of expiration, if within 180 days of the expiration of the license the owner complies with all other requirements of division (C) of this section;
(6) The applicant shall identify a managing agent or contact person who resides within a 25 miles radius of the city and who has the authority to act for the owner;
(7) Except as otherwise provided, a short-term rental license may be issued for a period not to exceed 12 consecutive months for any dwelling under the following circumstances and pursuant to the following conditions:
(a) The owner is the occupant of the dwelling unit at the time of application or the Code Official finds that the owner was the occupant within 30 days before the date of application; and
(b) For professional, educational, medical, or military service reasons the owner intends to reside in another community located at least 50 miles from the city; and
(c) The owner provides sufficient evidence of such intention to temporarily relocate. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to written offers of employment, employment transfer directives, a letter of acceptance from an educational institution, or military orders; and
(d) The license may not be issued more frequently than once in any three years;
(e) The license shall be applied for in the same manner as other rental period; and licenses; and
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the rental unit shall comply with all applicable rental licensing standards; and
(g) A short term license may be extended for additional six month periods provided that an application for extension is received prior to the expiration of the short term license or six-month extension and adequate evidence justifying the extension is submitted.
(D) Fees. Fees provided for in this section shall be established by resolution of the City Council. License fees shall not be prorated, transferred, or refunded.
(E) Term of license. Licenses issued pursuant to this section shall be for a term of three years. The term shall commence on the license issuance date and expire three years from that date. All license renewals, including those authorized before expiration, and those administratively reissued, subject to division (C)(5) of this section, shall retain the original license issuance month and day. License fees shall not be prorated.
(F) License conditions. All rental units are subject to the following conditions:
(1) No license shall be transferred to another rental unit;
(2) At the principal exterior entrance to a rental unit an informational notice shall be posted that complies with the following requirements:
(a) The notice shall be displayed in a conspicuous place;
(b) The notice shall indicate the name, e-mail address and telephone number of the owner or managing agent;
(c) The notice shall be of such construction to remain readily visible for the term of the rental license.
(3) If there is a change in ownership of a rental unit, the new owner shall apply for a transfer of the license within 30 days of the change and pay the license transfer fee. If the rental unit is sold pursuant to a contract for deed, the purchaser shall be responsible for applying for the license transfer and providing a recorded copy of said contract for deed from the St. Louis County Recorder's office. A new license shall be issued for the remainder of the license period;
(4) If there is a change in managing agent, the new managing agent shall notify the Code Official in writing and update the notice in division (G)(2)(a) of this section above within ten days of the change;
(5) The owner shall ensure that all required off street parking spaces, offered during the summer, are kept clear of snow during the winter.
(6) Owners are required to provide a minimum as follows. If a property has more than four bedrooms, one additional parking space for each additional bedroom is required. Each parking space needs to be a minimum of 9 feet wide by 17 feet long.
(a) Parking spaces required for rental licenses:
1 Bedroom... 1 Space
2 Bedroom... 1 Space
3 Bedroom... 2 Spaces
4 Bedroom... 2 Spaces
(b) A Code Official will require the construction of additional parking if they determine there is space on the rental property to provide or construct the required off-street parking space(s) in conformance with the code. If it is determined that adequate off-street parking cannot be provided, the Council shall establish a non-conforming parking spot fee for each required space not provided.
(G) License conditions - short term rentals. In addition to license conditions found in division (F) of this section, all short term rental units are subject to the additional following conditions:
(1) The owner must disclose in writing to their renters the following information:
(a) The managing agent or local contact's name, address, and phone number
(b) The maximum number of guests allowed at the property.
(c) The maximum number of vehicles, recreational vehicles, and trailers allowed at the property and where they are to be parked.
(d) Property rules related to use of exterior features of the property, such as decks, patios, grills, recreational fires, pools, hot tubs, saunas and other outdoor recreational facilities
(e) Applicable sections of city ordinances governing noise, parks, parking and pets.
(2) Additional occupancy by use of recreational vehicles, tents, accessory structures or fish houses is not permitted.
(3) The owner or owners agent shall provide a physical visual demarcation of the property lines.
(4) The license holder shall keep a report; detailing use of the short term rental by recording the full name, address, phone number and vehicle license number of guests using the rental. A copy of the report shall be provided to the Planning Department upon request.
(5) In-unit posting. The following information shall be posted in a conspicuous place within the short term rental:
(a) Name and contact information for the resident agent in charge of monitoring the property while renters are present.
(b) Street address of the subject property.
(c) Floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes.
(H) Inspection procedure.
(1) All premises licensed pursuant to this section shall be made available for inspection by the Code Official at any reasonable time whether the request for inspection is in conjunction with the licensing of the rental unit or the result of a complaint. In addition, the Code Official may require the licensee to produce records and information demonstrating that the rental unit complies with any applicable licensee duties or mandatory rental agreement terms described in § 10.40(C). Licensee shall retain all applicable records for the occupant during the term of occupancy, and for one calendar year thereafter.
(2) If during the inspection or other investigation, violations of the provisions of this section, or other applicable provisions of this code are identified, or the licensee fails to produce records or information as requested by the Code Official, written notice shall be mailed to the licensee at the notification address on file with the Code Official. The notice shall identify all violations identified and establish a reasonable time, not to exceed 180 days, in which all violations must be corrected or the rental unit vacated. At the end of the correction time, the rental unit shall be re-inspected. If the rental unit is not vacated or the violations are not corrected, the Code Official may take any of the following actions:
(a) Provide for an additional correction period. In no case may the total amount of correction time provided by the initial period and any additional period exceed 180 days;
(b) Revoke the license and order the vacation of the rental unit of all persons and property. The Code Official shall provide a reasonable time for vacation which shall not exceed 30 days;
(3) If the Code Official revokes a license; written notice shall be mailed to the licensee at the notification address on file with the Code Official and posted in a conspicuous place at the rental unit.
(I) Violations, enforcement and penalties.
(1) Violations. It shall be a violation of this section, and a public nuisance, to do any of the following:
(a) Allow tenant occupancy in any portion of an unlicensed rental unit;
(b) Allow tenant occupancy in any unlicensed portion of a licensed rental unit;
(c) Refuse entry to an inspection official where such entry is allowed pursuant to division (C) of this section;
(d) Fail to comply with any final order of the Code Official;
(e) Advertisement by a property owner or owner's representative of any dwelling or rental unit or any portion thereof as available for rent that is not licensed for rental at the time the advertisement is made. For purposes of this section, advertisement includes, but is not limited to, oral or written notice, such as a poster or a paid announcement in the print, broadcast, or electronic media, designed to attract public attention or patronage;
(f) Advertisement by a property owner or owner's representative of any dwelling or rental unit or any portion thereof as available for rent without the rental application license number for the rental unit appearing in the advertisement. For purposes of this section, advertisement includes, but is not limited to, oral or written notice, such as a poster or a paid announcement in the print, broadcast, or electronic media, designed to attract public attention or patronage;
(g) Failure to comply with City Code Ch. 17.
(2) Continuing violations. Each day that a violation occurs or remains uncorrected after the final order of the Code Official shall constitute a separate violation.
(3) Enforcement. The city has the following enforcement powers:
(a) The city may issue an administrative citation pursuant to § 10.37(K) of the City Code;
(b) The city may pursue any other civil action in law or equity in any court of competent jurisdiction, including without limitation a request for a declaratory judgment, restraining order or a temporary or permanent injunction;
(c) The city may revoke a rental license and issue an order for vacation of the premises;
(4) Penalties. The owner of any property where a violation of this section occurs, and any person violating this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, as provided in § 10.37(K) of the City Code.
(Ord. passed 4-11-2023)