(a) Upon inspection, whenever the designated City official determines that there has been a violation of the Code, notice shall be given to the owner.
(b) Form. Such notice prescribed in subsection (a) hereof shall:
(1) Be in writing;
(2) Include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification;
(3) Include a statement of the reason or reasons why the notice is being issued; and
(4) Include a correction order allowing a reasonable time for the repairs and improvements required to bring the dwelling unit or structure into compliance with the provisions of this Code.
(c) Method of Service. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served if a copy thereof is delivered to the owner or property manager personally; or sent by proof of mailing addressed to the owner at the address listed by the Huron County Auditor's tax lists with return receipt requested.
(d) Transfer of Ownership. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dwelling unit or structure who has received a compliance order or upon whom a notice of violation has been served, to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of to another until the provisions of the compliance order or notice of violation have been complied with, or until such owner shall first furnish the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee a true copy of any compliance order or notice of violation issued by the designated City official and shall furnish to the designated City official a signed and notarized statement from the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee, acknowledging the receipt of such compliance order or notice of violation and fully accepting the responsibility without condition for making the corrections or repairs required by such compliance order or notice of violation.
(e) Fees. No fees shall be charged for an initial inspection. If upon a re-inspection the City's designated official detennines that a correction order has not be satisfactorily resolved in the time frame specified, a fee shall be charged to the property owner of:
(1) For a first offense, a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for one violation and fifty dollars ($50.00) for two or more violations.
(2) For a second offense for the same violation(s) within a year, a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for one violation and one hundred dollars ($ 100.00) for two or more violations.
(3) For a third offense, and each offense thereafter, for the same violation(s) within a year, a fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for one or more violations.
(f) Fees must be paid within thirty days of issuance.
(g) City's Remedy for Fees Levied and Not Paid. The Finance Director shall make a written return to the County Auditor of the City's action under paragraph (e) hereof with a statement fees and a proper description of the premises. Such amounts, when allowed, shall be entered upon the tax duplicate and be a lien upon such lands from and after the date of the entry and be collected as other taxes and returned to the City's General Fund.
(h) Failure to comply with health and life safety violations within a reasonable time shall result in the removal of the rental housing registration.
(Ord. 5836-19. Passed 12-16-19.)