No person, firm or corporation shall manage, conduct or operate
the business of keeping a rooming house (referred to in this chapter
as an "establishment subject to licensing") without first securing
a license therefor within the time and in the manner herein provided,
nor shall any owner permit, on premises owned by him, the operation
of such an establishment without a license.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of the license
shall be for one year, from June 1 to May 31 of the next succeeding
year, and shall be renewable annually.
The license fee and per-room fee shall be due and payable as of June 1 of each year. Where licenses are issued after December 1, the licensee shall pay 1/2 of the license and per-room fee. The annual license fee shall be as provided in Chapter
191, Fee Schedule.
No license for operation of a rooming house shall be issued
if it is demonstrated that the operator of such rooming house or any
person who shall be involved in the management of the premises on
which the rooming house is to be operated:
A. Has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, including
a conviction for gambling, prostitution, or illegal possession or
use of drugs;
B. Is demonstrated to be a carrier of communicable disease; or
C. Is otherwise physically or mentally unfit or unsuited, as shown by
objective facts, to be such operator or to be involved in the management
of a rooming house.
Any license issued hereunder shall cover only the number of
occupants and that part of the premises described in the application
therefor. Any increase in rooming units or in the number of roomers
to be accommodated, or in the part of the premises utilized as a rooming
house, or any other substantial change in the information contained
in the application, or change in the person or persons actually in
charge of operating or maintaining the premises shall require the
submission and filing of an amended application containing such changed
or additional information.
The license issued hereunder shall be nontransferable, and no
person other than the licensee shall operate or be permitted by the
owner to operate the licensed premises. Where there is to be a change
of ownership or operation, application shall be made for a new license.
The applicant shall not be entitled to any refund of any fees
paid hereunder by reason of the rejection of the application, the
suspension or revocation of any license, or the transfer of ownership
or operation of premises prior to the termination of the license period.
The licensee shall display the license in a vestibule, front
hallway or other prominent place at or near the front entrance of
the building during the entire period for which the license was issued.
The issuance of a license shall constitute a certification that
the premises, as of the date of issuance, comply with this code but
shall not be construed as a certification that the premises comply
with any other City ordinance or any state law, nor shall it relieve
any other official or public agency from enforcing any applicable
ordinance or law.
Night lights shall be provided in all common areaways leading
to bathrooms and in hallways.
There shall be central heating in all establishments subject to licensing, and adequate heat, as required under §
317-19A(13), shall be provided to all occupied rooming units and to all bathrooms.
Space heaters are prohibited.
Where food is served in any establishment subject to licensing,
then, in addition to this code, the premises shall be subject to the
regulations and requirements of the Sanitary Code and shall be supervised
by the Health Officer as well as by the public officer.
The public officer is authorized to enforce any violation of
this code reported to him by the Health Officer.