The Delaware State Housing Code as found at Title 31, Chapter
41, of the Delaware Code, as it exists at this date and as it may be amended in the future, is adopted as the Housing Code for Rehoboth Beach pursuant to the authority found at 31 Del. C. § 4107, with the following modifications:
A. Title 31, § 4103, of the Delaware Code applicable
for the purposes of Rehoboth Beach is modified to read: "The State Housing
Code shall apply to existing residential structures used for human habitation.
The provisions are designed to eliminate or prevent substandard conditions
with respect to structures, protect against fire hazards, provide for adequate
space for light and air, provide for proper heating and ventilating and eliminate
unsanitary conditions and overcrowding. Every portion of a building or premises
used or intended to be used for residential purposes shall comply with this
chapter."
B. At 31 Del. C. § 4105(c), the words "The State
Housing Code shall not apply to any existing resort residential structure
held primarily for the production of income and which is offered for seasonal
rental for the months of May through September inclusive" are deleted and
the following sentence is substituted in lieu thereof: "The provisions of
the State Housing Code, for purposes of its applicability to the City of Rehoboth
Beach, shall apply to any existing resort residential structure held primarily
for the production of income and which is offered for rental whether seasonally
or otherwise, except that for any structures, dwelling units and guest rooms
which are offered for seasonal rental during only the months of May through
September inclusive, the heating requirements of § 4117(a) of the
State Housing Code shall not be required to be met."
C. The language at 31 Del. C. § 4117(a) is amended
to read as follows: "(a) Heating. Every dwelling unit and guest room, unless
offered for seasonal rental during only the months of May through September,
inclusive, shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining
a room temperature of 65° F., at a point three feet above the floor and
three feet from an exterior wall in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet
rooms."
No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service equipment or
utility which is required by this chapter to be removed, shut off or discontinued
for any occupied dwelling let or occupied by him, except for such temporary
interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in
process, or during temporary emergencies.
Every dwelling of three or more dwelling units in which the owner or
operator does not reside shall have a janitor as found necessary by the City
Manager.
A contract effective as between owner and operator, operator and occupant
or owner and occupant, with regard to compliance hereunder shall not relieve
any party of his direct responsibility under this chapter.