(a) Registration of all rental units and rental dwellings shall be made prior to the use or occupancy of any rental dwelling or rental unit. Any new owner shall register in accordance with this chapter and shall apply to have the certificate of compliance for each rental unit or rental dwelling. Registration will be valid for a three-year period commencing on the registration application date and expiring three years from date of issue or three years from the expiration of the previous rental registration, whichever occurs first.
(b) A renewal fee shall be established by resolution of the City Council, which shall be paid at the time of the registration of the rental unit or rental dwelling, the transfer of ownership, or registration renewal, which fee shall also include the transfer of the certificate of compliance, if applicable.
(c) Failure to register or renew within 30 days a rental dwelling or rental unit, or any other violation of this section, shall be a municipal civil infraction. The requirements of this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, all other city ordinances, rules and regulations. The offense shall be subject to a one hundred dollar ($100.00) fine for each day the rental unit or rental dwelling remains unregistered or that the registration is expired and subject to any other costs authorized by the court pursuant to MCL 600.8727, MCL 600.8375, or state law. As authorized by MCL 600.8731, in the event such fines and costs are not paid within thirty days, then they may become a lien on the property and be placed on the tax roll, or result in a suit for collection of judgment.
(d) Any person, entity or owner who fails for a period of six consecutive months to register or renew a rental dwelling or rental unit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by ninety days imprisonment and/or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(Ord. 1996-26. Passed 12-17-96; Ord. 2017-06. Passed 12-5-17.)