[R.O. 1995 § 517.010; Ord. No. 2002-19 § 1, 12-12-2002]
It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide for effective monitoring and routine inspection of vacant buildings and structures that, due to Housing Code violations, may endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the general public and this Chapter shall apply to all residential structures that have been vacant for more than six (6) months and that are subject to Housing Code violations.
[R.O. 1995 § 517.020; Ord. No. 2002-19 § 1, 12-12-2002]
The following words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, shall mean:
HOUSING CODE
A local building, fire, health, property maintenance, nuisance or other ordinance which contains standards regulating the condition or maintenance of residential buildings.
RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE
A structure devoted primarily to residential use, whether classified as residential or commercial, and regardless of the number of dwelling units contained within such structure.
[R.O. 1995 § 517.030; Ord. No. 2002-19 § 1, 12-12-2002]
Every parcel of residential property improved by a residential structure or commercial property improved by a structure containing multiple-dwelling units, that is vacant and has been vacant for at least six (6) months, and is characterized by violations of the Housing Code shall be registered as a vacant residential structure and shall be subject to the registration fee.
[R.O. 1995 § 517.040; Ord. No. 2002-19 § 1, 12-12-2002]
A. 
Registration. The Building Commissioner for the City of Bel-Ridge, Missouri, or his/her designee shall investigate any property that may be subject to registration. Based upon his/her findings, the Building Commissioner may register property as a vacant residential structure subject to this Chapter.
B. 
Notice Of Registration. Within five (5) business days of such registration, the City Clerk shall notify the owners of the registered property by mail at their last known address according to the records of the City of Bel-Ridge and St. Louis County. Such notice shall state:
1. 
A description of the property registered;
2. 
A description of the Housing Code violations found on the property;
3. 
The fact that a semiannual registration fee has been levied on the property; and
4. 
The amount of the semiannual registration fee.
C. 
Time To Cure — Reconsideration. Within thirty (30) days of the date of notification, the property owner may complete any improvements to the property that may be necessary to remove the property from registration under this Chapter and may request a reinspection of the property and reconsideration of the levy of the registration fee. Upon receipt of a written request for reconsideration of the levy of the registration fee which sets out the reasons claimed by the property owner as to why the registration fee should be waived, the Building Commissioner may waive levy of the registration fee following timely compliance.
D. 
Appeal Of Registration And/Or Reconsideration To Municipal Court. Within thirty (30) days of the date of such notification or within thirty (30) days of the date of reconsideration by the Building Commissioner, the property owner may appeal the decision to the office of the Municipal Court for the City of Bel-Ridge.
[R.O. 1995 § 517.050; Ord. No. 2002-19 § 1, 12-12-2002; Ord. No. 2003-06 § 1, 4-10-2003]
A. 
Amount Of Fee. There is hereby established and assessed a semiannual fee in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) imposed on all owners of property registered under this Chapter.
B. 
Owner Responsible. It shall be the joint and several responsibility of each owner of property registered pursuant to this Chapter to pay the semiannual registration fee.
C. 
Accrual Of Fee. The registration fee shall begin to accrue on the beginning of the second calendar quarter after registration by the Building Commissioner or reconsideration by the Building Commissioner; however, in the event that an appeal is filed with the Municipal Court, the registration fee shall begin to accrue on the beginning of the second calendar quarter after the final decision of the Municipal Judge or court of competent jurisdiction.
D. 
Billing Procedures — Late Penalties. The City Clerk shall cause to be mailed to the owner of property registered under this Chapter, at his or her last known address, a bill for the semiannual registration fee. The fee shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days of mailing. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, if an owner fails to pay the fee assessed for such property within thirty (30) days of the date of mailing, a late payment fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per month shall be assessed for each month during which the fee remains unpaid.
E. 
Failure To Pay Fee Unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any owner of property registered pursuant to this Chapter to fail to pay the registration fee imposed for such property. Any person found guilty of failing to pay any required fee shall be punished as provided in Section 100.220 of the Municipal Code.
F. 
Collection Of Delinquent Fees — Lien On Property And Other Effects Of Delinquent Fees — Foreclosure Proceedings.
1. 
Action To Recover. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, the City may initiate and pursue an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid fees, interest and penalties from any person liable therefore and, in addition, may recover the cost of such action, including reasonable attorney fees.
2. 
Lien On Property. Any unpaid or delinquent fees, interest and/or penalties, whether or not reduced to judgment, shall constitute a lien against the property for which the fee was originally assessed until the same shall be fully satisfied. The City Clerk is authorized to take all steps necessary to file and perfect such liens as may be required or directed by the Building Commissioner from time to time.
3. 
Obtaining Permits Prohibited. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, if an owner fails to the pay the fee assessed for such property, including any late payment fee subsequently imposed, within sixty (60) days of the date of mailing of the initial bill, said owner shall not be permitted to apply for, obtain or renew any City license or permit of any kind until such delinquency has been satisfied.
4. 
Foreclosure. Any registration fees which are delinquent for a period of one (1) year shall be subject to foreclosure proceedings in the same manner as delinquent real property taxes. The owner of the property against which the assessment was originally made shall be able to redeem the property only by presenting evidence that the violations of the applicable Housing Code cited by the Building Commissioner have been cured and presenting payment of all registration fees and penalties.
5. 
Sale Of Property. Upon bona fide sale of the property to an unrelated party, the lien on such property for the registration fees shall be considered released and the delinquent registration fee forgiven.
[Ord. No. 2017-23 § 1, 8-1-2017]
A. 
This Section shall apply to all rental dwellings, as defined in this Article, including dwellings owned, operated, or subsidized by public or nonprofit agencies. Effective January 1, 2018, the annual rental dwelling registration requirement established by this Section shall go into effect.
B. 
The owner of any rental dwelling as defined in this Article shall register such dwelling annually with the Department of Public Works ("Department"). It shall be a violation of the City of Bel-Ridge Code for any person or entity to fail to register any rental units regulated by this Article. If a complex of rental dwellings on the same lot or property is under common ownership, the entire complex shall be considered to be the equivalent of a single rental dwelling for purposes of registration.
C. 
Prior to February 1, 2018, the owner of each rental dwelling shall make written application to the Director for registration of such dwelling. There shall be no fee charged for this registration. After January 31, 2018, no person or entity shall allow to be occupied, or let to another for occupancy, any rental unit unless the unit has been registered as provided for in this Article.
D. 
All registrations issued under this Article shall expire on December 31 of each year and shall be subject to renewal annually. Application for renewal of registration in any year will be accepted beginning January 1 and may be made without penalty through January 31.
E. 
All owners shall apply for registration and renewal on a form provided by the Department, which shall include provision for the following owner, agent and other information:
1. 
The common name of the property, if any, and exact street address of each dwelling to be registered and the number of dwelling units in the dwelling.
2. 
An identification of the owner(s) by full name, telephone number, mailing address, e-mail address and date of birth. If the property is owned by a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, trust or real estate investment trust, the name and address of any of the following shall be provided:
a. 
For a corporation, a corporate officer and the chief operating officer;
b. 
For a partnership, the managing partner;
c. 
For a limited liability company, the managing or administrative member;
d. 
For a limited partnership, a general partner;
e. 
For a trust, a trustee; or
f. 
For a real estate investment trust, a general partner or an officer.
3. 
If the owner does not reside within the City of Bel-Ridge, Missouri, he or she shall designate a local agent who shall be authorized to receive on behalf of the owner service of any notice, order or summons issued because of a violation of the City of Bel-Ridge Code. Such agent must be an individual over the age of eighteen (18) years and must reside within the City or customarily and regularly attend a business office located within the City. A partner, associate or corporate principal who meets these qualifications may be designated and registered as the agent. All official notices may be served on the responsible local agent and any notice so served shall be deemed to have been served upon the owner of record.
4. 
The full name, telephone number, mailing address and e-mail address of an agent, if one is so designated by the owner, to schedule inspections and receive service of any notice, order or summons issued because of a violation of this code.
5. 
The names, addresses, and phone numbers of designated employees or authorized representatives who may be contacted in the event of an emergency.
6. 
The signatures of the owner, an officer if the owner is a corporation, a partner if the owner is a partnership, a member if the owner is a limited liability company and the registered agent if so designated. A registered agent's signature shall indicate consent to the designation.
7. 
The name, street address and telephone number for any buyer on a contract for deed, if one shall exist.
8. 
The name, mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address for the person or entity, whether it be the owner, tenant, manager or agent, responsible for maintenance of the yard and grounds, including but not limited to trash pick up and lawn maintenance.
F. 
A rental unit certificate of compliance as described elsewhere in this Article shall not be issued if the registration provisions of this Section are not complied with.
G. 
The owner of a newly constructed rental dwelling or of any dwelling newly converted to a rental dwelling shall register the rental dwelling prior to allowing occupancy of any new rental units. There shall be no charge for the initial registration provided that the application is made within thirty (30) days following the date of a certificate of occupancy for the property.
H. 
No person or entity shall rent, let, lease or otherwise allow the occupancy of any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit unless the property has been registered as above provided.
[Ord. No. 2017-23 § 1, 8-1-2017]
The owner of a rental dwelling already registered with the City shall register any changes in the original registration information within thirty (30) days of said change. There shall be no fee for this registration update if done within the thirty (30) days.
[Ord. No. 2017-23 § 1, 8-1-2017]
A. 
Every seller of a rental dwelling registered as provided in this Section shall give notice in writing to the Department within thirty (30) days of closing. This notice shall include the name and address of the buyer.
B. 
The new owner shall have thirty (30) days from the date the change of ownership occurred to file a new registration with the Department.
[Ord. No. 2017-23 § 1, 8-1-2017]
The Department shall maintain a registry of all rental dwellings and rental units within the City that contains the following information:
A. 
The address of the rental dwelling.
B. 
The number of dwelling units in the dwelling.
C. 
The name of the owner.
D. 
The name of the manager or other responsible person designated by the owner.
E. 
The telephone number where the owner and/or other responsible person will accept calls.
F. 
The name and address of the person or entity responsible for maintenance of the yard and grounds.
[Ord. No. 2017-23 § 1, 8-1-2017]
It shall be a violation of the City of Bel-Ridge Code for an owner or a responsible person to provide inaccurate information for the register of rental dwellings or to fail to provide information required by the City for the register. In those cases in which the owner is not a natural person, the owner information required for the register shall be provided for the organization owning the rental dwelling and for the president, general manager, resident manager or other chief executive officer of the organization.