[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
For purposes of this Article, the following definitions shall apply:
BUILDING COMMISSIONER
The City Administrator of the City or designee.
CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY
Occupancy of rental housing by a new or different user than the previous occupant.
CITY
The City of Ste. Genevieve.
OCCUPANCY PERMIT
A certificate of occupancy issued under the provisions of this Code.
OCCUPANT
Any person living in rental housing or having possession of a space within rental housing.
RENT
Payment, usually of an amount fixed by contract, made by an occupant at specified intervals in consideration for the right to occupy or use the residential property of another.
RENTAL HOUSING
All housing units that are not owner-occupied that are occupied or available to be occupied in consideration of payment of rent.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
All owners, agents and/or landlords owning rental housing within the City limits shall be required to register such rental housing with the City by October 16, 2006 and annually thereafter. All owners, agents and/or landlords of rental housing shall be notified of this requirement by publication in the local newspaper, public television, bulletin board listings and notification letters from the City. Any owner, agent and/or landlord owning such rental housing within the City limits who fails to hereafter register such rental housing in a timely manner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall pay a fine in accordance with Section 500.350 of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
The Rental Housing Advisory Commission of Ste. Genevieve is hereby established as a standing committee. Such committee shall continue to consist of five (5) voting members and one (1) member of the Board of Aldermen who shall serve as a non-voting liaison. All members of the Commission shall be residents of the City and shall serve without compensation. All members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Board of Aldermen. The Committee shall meet quarterly to review and address issues that relate to rental property and the City's building codes.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
No rental housing shall be occupied or used in whole or in part until an occupancy permit is issued by the Building Commissioner. All rental housing located within the City limits will be inspected upon change of occupancy by the Building Commissioner before an occupancy permit may be issued. The City shall refuse municipal water service to any rental housing that has not received an inspection and/or occupancy permit in violation of this Article. Any owner, agent and/or landlord that permits occupancy of such rental housing prior to inspection by the City shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall pay a fine in accordance with Section 500.350 of this Chapter. No owner, agent and/or landlord shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for any occupancy of rental housing in existence on the date this Article is adopted unless there is a change in occupancy after such date or such owner, agent and/or landlord fails to comply with the requirements of this Chapter. It shall otherwise be effective immediately upon adoption of this Article.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
All owners, agents and/or landlords of rental housing, who are responsible for renting and leasing such rental housing, shall schedule with the Building Commissioner a compliance inspection at least five (5) business days prior to a change in occupancy. The rental housing to be rented or leased shall comply with all Sections of this Chapter and the owner, agent or landlord responsible for the rent or lease of such rental housing shall have a valid occupancy permit in his/her possession prior to rental of the unit.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own and operate any rental housing within the City unless such person holds a valid permit issued after inspection upon change of occupancy by the Building Commissioner in the name of such person for the specific rental housing.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
A. 
Permit applications for all rental housing shall be submitted to the Building Commissioner on forms provided by the City, accompanied by an affidavit, certifying the truth of the application and shall contain the following information:
1. 
The name and address of the applicant or owner;
2. 
The location and legal description of the rental housing;
3. 
The number of rental units located within the rental housing;
4. 
The number of tenants occupying each rental unit within the rental housing;
5. 
The number of bedrooms and bathrooms in each rental unit within the rental housing; and
shall be accompanied by a permit fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
B. 
Permits shall be granted by the Building Commissioner provided the applicant has complied with all applicable provisions of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 3508 §1, 8-24-2006]
The Board of Aldermen and the City Administrator from time to time may undertake to provide training to City employees regarding the provisions of this Article, educate the public regarding rental housing, apply for or participate in neighborhood improvement grants or take any other similar action deemed necessary to facilitate and promote safe, sanitary and well maintained rental housing under this Article.