(A) The owner of a leasehold shall notify the lessee of the city’s request to inspect a leasehold, shall make a good-faith effort to obtain the lessee’s consent for an inspection, and, if the owner obtains the lessee’s consent for an inspection, shall arrange for the inspection by the city.
(B) The owner of a leasehold shall provide the city access to the leasehold for an inspection during reasonable hours if any of the following apply:
(1) The lease authorizes city inspector to enter the leasehold for an inspection;
(2) The lessee has made a complaint to the city;
(3) The leasehold is vacant;
(4) The city serves an administrative warrant ordering the owner to provide access; and
(5) The lessee has consented to an inspection. If a lessee is not present during the inspection, the city may rely on the owner’s representation to the city that the lessee has consented to the city’s inspection.
(C) The lessee shall provide the city access to the leasehold for an inspection during reasonable hours if any of the following apply:
(1) The lease authorizes the city inspector to enter the leasehold for an inspection;
(2) The lessee has made a complaint to the city;
(3) The city serves an administrative warrant ordering the lessee to provide access; and
(4) The lessee has given consent.
(D) If a lessee who refused an inspection by the city vacates a leasehold before an inspection by the city, the owner of the leasehold shall notify the city within ten days after the leasehold is vacated.
(E) (1) Before entering a leasehold regulated by this section, the owner of the leasehold shall request and obtain permission to enter the leasehold.
(2) However, in the case of an emergency, including, but not limited to, fire, flood or other threat of serious injury or death, the owner may enter at any time.
(Prior Code, § 31.1-5) (Ord. 1473, passed 3-25-2019)