§ 8-136. Rental housing unit inspection program requirements.

(a)

The rental housing unit inspection program shall apply to any property with three or more rental housing units within the City which has had one or more vegetation overgrowth violations which have been remedied by the City pursuant to chapter 16 (pertaining to lot clearing) or which has a recurrent violation of any of the following:

(1)

Evidence of fire damage visible from the exterior (section 8-169).

(2)

Occupied properties with one or more required egress openings (windows and doors) that are not maintained as required by life safety codes, inoperable, boarded or partially boarded (section 8-169(b)).

(3)

Roof disrepair, including but not limited to deteriorating, incomplete, broken or missing rafters, rafter tails, trusses, sheathing, and waterproof membranes and roof covering components such as asphalt impregnated felt, roll roof, shingles, cedar shakes and cement tiles (section 8-169).

(4)

Disrepair of structural components that affect the structural integrity of the building, which include, but are not limited to, significant cracks in the exterior walls, foundations, or other building parts that create openings where water may be entering the exterior components to wear away supporting parts of the structure; deteriorated, incomplete, broken or missing structural components such as footings, stem walls, piers, floor rim joists, wall studs, sheathing, siding, stucco, cement block, and bond beams (section 8-169).

(5)

Overgrowth (chapter 16).

(6)

Placement or storage of junk, garbage, and/or rubbish, or prohibited outdoor storage (which includes inoperative motor vehicles and appliances) (sections 8-63 and 8-201).

(7)

Electrical violations where wires, panels, or other electrical systems or appliances are determined to be in violation because of exposure to weather or leaking or pooling water, or the potential unsafe access to or use by any person (section 8-166).

(8)

Violations affecting health including inadequate or defective potable water or sanitary sewer services (sections 8-63, 8-234, 8-163, 8-200, 8-263), inadequate or defective sanitary facilities (sections 8-163 and 8-200), and improper, inadequate or unsanitary disposal or garbage, animal excreta or rubbish (sections 8-198 and 8-199).

(9)

Structural work performed without permits including changes, repairs or additions to floors, walls, roofs, porches, decks or decking, or balconies (section 8-169(a)).

(b)

Once a property has been determined to be subject to the rental housing unit inspection program, the POD shall notify the owner of the property that all rental housing units are subject to inspection if they are currently vacant, when they become vacant and all other requirements of this subdivision. Notice shall be delivered in writing by regular U.S. mail to the address of the property and the address in the public records of the county for the mailing of tax notices and by posting on the property. Failure of an owner or owners to receive this notice shall not preclude the enforcement of this subdivision or affect the validity or application of this subdivision in any way.

(c)

The property shall be subject to the rental housing unit inspection program on the date notice has been mailed and posted. Thereafter, all housing units on the property shall be subject to all requirements of the certificate inspection program set forth in this subdivision, except for the provision that applies to multifamily rental complexes (currently section 8-132) and the provisions that require the property to be located in a target area, for a period of two years.

(d)

The owner of a property subject to this section shall provide access to all areas other than the rental housing units, such as common tenant space or areas open to public view/access, or both.

(e)

The POD may inspect occupied rental housing units if:

(1)

The POD notifies the tenant and requests permission to inspect its rental housing unit;

(2)

The tenant gives the POD permission to inspect; and

(3)

The POD and tenant arrange for the inspection.

(Code 1992, § 8-280; Ord. No. 660-G, § 3, 4-22-2004)