This chapter shall be referred to as the "Residential Rental
Ordinance."
The City Commissioners find and determine as follows:
A. The use of single- and multiple-family dwelling units has long been
used in the resort community for residential rental purposes to provide
an alternative to traditional accommodations; however, such uses may
have adverse impacts that can best be addressed through appropriate
regulations.
B. The regulation of residential rentals will preserve and protect the
City's neighborhoods and provide standards and procedures for
residential rentals, as well as educate prospective renters on City
regulations and expected behaviors.
C. The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations for such
use of residential rentals thereby enabling the City to preserve the
public health, safety, and welfare.
D. This chapter does not regulate hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes, rooming houses and boardinghouses, cabins, and cottages, as defined herein and in Chapter
270.
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
BEDROOM
An area contained within a residential rental that is normally
occupied, heated or cooled by any equipment listed or labeled for
human habitation and designated as a sleeping room or area.
CABIN
A small single-story residential dwelling without kitchen
facilities used as a residential rental, located upon real property
with a rental office or attendant. A cabin shall not be an accessory
to a principal dwelling.
COTTAGE
A small single-story residential dwelling used as a residential
rental, located on a property with a rental office or attendant. A
cottage shall not be an accessory to a principal dwelling.
EFFICIENCY UNIT
A dwelling in which one room typically contains the kitchen,
living, and sleeping quarters, but with a separate bathroom.
GOOD CAUSE
For the purposes of denial, suspension, revocation, imposition
of conditions, renewal, and reinstatement of a residential rental
license, "good cause" means: 1) the owner, the owner's representative,
or the local contact person has failed to comply with any of the terms,
conditions, or provisions of this chapter or any relevant provision
of this Code, state law, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder;
2) the owner, the owner's representative, or the local contact
person has failed to comply with any special conditions or restrictions
that were placed upon the residential rental license by the City Manager;
3) the residential rental has been operated in a manner that adversely
affects the public health or welfare or the safety of the immediate
neighborhood in which the residential rental is located; or 4) the
owner is delinquent with any taxes or fees owed to the City of Rehoboth
Beach.
GOOD NEIGHBOR BROCHURE
A document prepared by the City that summarizes the general
rules of conduct, consideration, and respect, including without limitation
provisions of the Municipal Code of the City of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware,
applicable to renters and residents of the City.
LOCAL CONTACT PERSON
An individual designated by the owner or the owner's
representative who is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week,
for the purpose of responding by telephone or in person to complaints
regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the
residential rental, and who is authorized by the owner to take remedial
action.
OWNER
The legal owner of any property.
PROPERTY
A parcel of real property upon which a residential rental
is situated.
RENTAL TERM
The period of time an occupant and/or guest rents or leases
a residential rental.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
A dwelling unit, including a single-family detached, single-family
attached, or multifamily unit, or any portion thereof, rented for
dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes, and which is made available
by agreement for residential occupancy by a tenant in exchange for
compensation.
An owner may retain an agent or a representative to comply with
the requirements of this chapter, including, without limitation, the
filing of a complete residential rental license application, the management
of any residential rental, and compliance with the requirements of
this chapter. Except as provided in this chapter to the contrary,
and notwithstanding any agency relationships between an owner and
a representative, the owner of any residential rental shall remain
responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter, and
the failure of an owner's representative to comply with this
chapter shall not relieve the owner from any requirement of this chapter.
The requirements of this chapter shall be in addition to any
license, permit, or fee required under any other provision of this
Code. The issuance of any permit pursuant to this chapter shall not
relieve any person of the obligation to comply with all other provisions
of this Code pertaining to the use and occupancy of a residential
rental and the property on which it is located.