No person shall operate a rooming house, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house except in compliance with the provisions of every section of this chapter except the provisions of Articles
III and
IV.
Whenever, upon inspection of any rooming house, the City Manager
or his authorized representative finds that conditions or practices
exist which are in violation of any provision of this chapter or of
any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the City Manager
or his authorized representative shall give notice in writing to the
operator of such rooming house that such conditions or practices will
be corrected within a reasonable period of time to be determined by
the City Manager or his authorized representative. At the end of such
period, the City Manager or his authorized representative shall reinspect
the rooming house, and if he finds that such condition or practices
have not been corrected, he shall give notice in writing to the operator.
Upon receipt of notice, such operator shall immediately cease operations
of such rooming units, and no person shall occupy for sleeping or
living purposes any rooming unit therein condemned for occupancy.
At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin, and bathtub
or shower properly connected to a water and sewer system approved
by the City Manager or his authorized representative and in good working
condition shall be supplied for each eight-person capacity or fraction
thereof residing within a rooming house, including members of the
operator's family whenever they share the use of the facilities;
provided, however, that in a rooming house where rooms are let only
to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/2 of
the required number of water closets. "Rooming house capacity" means
the total bed capacity. All such facilities shall be so located within
the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or
passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory
basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water
at all times. No such facilities shall be located in a basement except
by written approval of the City Manager or his authorized representative.
The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed
linen and towels therein at least once each week, and prior to the
letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible
for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary
manner.
Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one person shall
contain at least 80 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied
for sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least
60 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
[Amended 11-19-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-02]
Every rooming unit shall have access to at least two remote,
safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space
at ground level, as required by the laws of this state and the City.
An unobstructed window may serve as one such means of egress.
The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for
the sanitary maintenance of all floors, walls, and ceilings, and for
maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming
house, and he shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance
of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased
or occupied by the operator.
Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses
shall also apply to motels and hotels.