[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016[1]; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019; Ord. No. 9046, 2-24-2025]
A. 
The goal of the City of Florissant Residential Rental Housing Program is to create a crime-free housing program and increase the quality of life of residents by partnering the City with owners, landlords and managing agents to decrease the incidents of public safety/nuisance/code violations and criminal activity in rental properties.
B. 
This program will collect current and accurate information identifying existing rental properties, owners, landlords, and managing agents in the City of Florissant. This information shall be used by the Police Department and the Department of Public Works to perform their respective duties.
C. 
It is not the intent of this Article and it shall not be construed or enforced in any manner which would penalize any residential rental stakeholder based on a residential rental stakeholder's request for emergency assistance on their own behalf or on behalf of another person in need of assistance or based on criminal activity of which a residential rental stakeholder is a victim or otherwise not at fault.
D. 
The City of Florissant shall fully comply with all State and Federal laws, including, but not limited to, the Fair Housing Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when implementing and enforcing the terms and provisions set forth herein.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Article XVII, Residential Rental Real Estate, consisting of Sections 605.453 through 605.466, which derive from CC 1990 §§14-800 — 14-805; Ord. No. 5997, 8-25-1997; Ord. No. 7623 §1, 8-29-2009; Ord. No. 7889 §§1 — 2, 7-11-2012; Ord. No. 8243 §§1 — 2, 7-11-2016; Ord. No. 8248 §1, 7-25-2016, was repealed and replaced with Sections 605.453 through 605.461.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019; Ord. No. 8705, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 9046, 2-24-2025]
For the purpose of this Article, the following terms, phrases and words shall have the meanings given herein and shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this Chapter unless otherwise specifically stated:
DWELLING
Any building or portion thereof which is designed or used for dwelling purposes.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof which is designed or used for residential dwelling by a single-family unit (i.e., a single-family house is one (1) dwelling unit, a duplex constitutes two (2) dwelling units, a four-family constitutes four (4) dwelling units, a multi-dwelling constitutes multiple dwelling units).
DWELLING, DUPLEX
A detached building designed for or occupied by two (2) families living independently of each other.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE
A building or portion thereof used or designed as a residence for three (3) or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in said building, including apartments, apartment hotels and group houses.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY
A detached building designed for or occupied exclusively by one (1) family.
OWNER
The owner of record of residential rental property, whether an individual(s), trust, partnership or corporation.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Includes, but not be limited to, lewd and lascivious behavior, loud music and/or noises (Section 210.750), failure to maintain property (Section 213.020, Ch. 510), graffiti (Section 210.1300), garbage/rubbish/litter (Sections 220.020, 213.020), tall weeds and grass (Section 213.030), property having physical conditions that threaten a person's health/safety/welfare (Section 510.230), having a dangerous building and/or conditions that threaten the physical health of a person (Section 213.010), rodent and insect infestation (Section 213.030), having derelict vehicles and/or equipment (Section 213.030), having flammable and/or hazardous materials which may endanger public safety (Section 213.030), unlicensed or inoperable vehicle(s) not contained within an enclosed area (Section 395.020 and 395.030), and obstructing surface storm water drainage (Section 535.030).
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY
Dwellings, duplex dwellings, multiple dwellings and one-family dwellings occupied by or offered for rent, lease or occupancy to any person(s), who otherwise qualify for an occupancy permit, who are not the owners of record of said property, excluding bed and breakfast establishments, lodging establishments and private clubs where lodging is furnished to members.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL STAKEHOLDER
With respect to any residential rental property, an owner, landlord, managing agent, tenant, resident, or occupant of, or an applicant for residence at, the residential rental property; and any guest or person under the control of a tenant, resident, or occupant of the residential rental property.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
A. 
License Required. A license is required for each residential rental property located within the City, and no person shall permit occupancy of or offer for rent/lease, without a residential rental license issued pursuant to this Article, any residential rental property within the City of Florissant to any person(s), as principal occupant(s), who are not the record owner(s) of the property or approved as exempt occupants under provisions of this Article.
B. 
Exemption. No residential rental license shall be required for non-owner occupancy of residential property where the principal occupant(s) of the residential property are beneficial owner(s) of the property or are related to the owner of the residential property within the second degree of consanguinity. An exemption to the requirement for a residential rental license for a particular parcel of residential rental property shall be established by filing with the Director of Public Works, on forms prescribed thereby, a declaration setting forth the name, street address, telephone number and a copy of identification of the owner of record of such residential rental property, signed thereby and the name of the principal occupant of the property and the basis for an exemption. Such exemption shall remain valid and need not be renewed unless the circumstances of exemption change or cease, but the Director of Public Works may periodically request verification of continuing qualifications for exemption status.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
A. 
Application for a license required by Section 605.455 shall be filed annually by the owner, landlord or managing agent in the office of Public Works by the earlier of:
1. 
January 31 of each calendar year for all residential rental property owned on January 1 of that year, or
2. 
For later acquired residential rental property, prior to permitting any occupancy of or any offering thereof for rent/lease by the owner to the Director of Public Works, shall set forth the name, street address, telephone number and a copy of identification of the owner of record of such residential property, signed thereby and shall list by street address each and every parcel of residential rental property owned by that owner that is located in the City of Florissant.
B. 
If the owner of said residential rental property wishes to designate an agent to be responsible for said property and to accept notices and process, then the owner of record shall designate said agent in the application together with the agent's name, street address and telephone number and the extent of the agent's authority to rent, manage and make expenditures of said property. The owner, property manager or authorized representative must reside within fifty (50) miles of the City of Florissant. A post office box, e-mail address, mailing address, or long distance toll free (e.g., eight hundred (800)) numbers shall not be deemed sufficient to meet the provisions of this Article.
C. 
In the event of any change of circumstances subsequent to the filing of an application that would result in a change in the information required by the application, the owner shall promptly file an amendment of such application on forms as specified by the Director of Public Works.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
A. 
All applicants shall have and maintain a crime free housing certificate from the City of Florissant, as administered by the Florissant Police Department or from another City, meeting all the criteria of the nationally accepted Crime Free Housing Program. The Chief of Police may issue such rules and regulations as deemed necessary to administer the Crime Free Housing Program for the City of Florissant, which shall be given at no charge.
B. 
All owners, landlords, or managing agents are encouraged to conduct a US Comprehensive Background Search on all prospective tenants and occupants age eighteen (18) and over prior to executing a lease or rental agreement. The search may go back seven (7) years including all known addresses, and should also check nationally recognized sex offender registration websites. The owner, landlord or managing agent may conduct this search, or may have a reputable agency conduct this search at their own expense, and the owner, landlord and managing agent are encouraged to refer to HUD, Guidance on Application for Fair Housing Act Standards to the use of criminal records by providers of housing and real estate related transactions or similar materials.
C. 
All owners, landlords and managing agents are encouraged to have the crime free rental agreement addendum completed and signed by the owner/landlord/managing agent and the tenants/occupants of age eighteen (18) or older prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
The annual fee for each calendar year or portion thereof for the license required by this Article shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) per owner per each residential dwelling unit in the City of Florissant due and payable at the time of application. License renewals are due by the end of January of each year. A delinquency fee, calculated at the rate of two dollars ($2.00) for each month after January 31 or portion thereof, shall be assessed for late payment of an application fee but may be waived by the Director of Public Works for good cause shown. However, license renewals may not be processed if the property has outstanding violations.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
Unless and until the annual application is filed by the owner, together with all necessary accompanying documents, and all fees due hereunder are paid in full and all outstanding fines imposed by the Florissant Municipal Court for any housing or Building Code violations by such owner are paid in full, no residential rental license shall be issued to such owner nor shall any new occupancy permit be issued for the occupancy of any parcel of residential rental property of such owner. Failure to obtain and maintain a valid residential rental license shall constitute grounds for the revocation or cancellation of all outstanding occupancy permits issued for any parcels of residential rental property of such owner associated with said rental license. No new occupancy permit shall be required if the occupancy remains the same for any parcel of residential rental property purchased or obtained.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019]
The Director of Public Works may issue such rules and regulations as deemed necessary to implement this Article and the policies contained herein.
[Ord. No. 8267 §1, 10-10-2016; Ord. No. 8375, 12-11-2017; Ord. No. 8526, 7-8-2019; Ord. No. 9046, 2-24-2025]
A. 
The residential rental license applicable to the residential rental property may be suspended or revoked by the Director of Public Works or designee following written notice to the owner and occupant(s) under the following conditions:
1. 
A license may be suspended if the residential rental property is found to be out of compliance with property maintenance codes on more than three (3) occasions within six (6) months and corrections are not being made to bring the property back into compliance within a reasonable period of time from the date of notice(s) of non-compliance.
2. 
A license may be suspended if an owner is found to have made materially false statement(s) on their application or failed to report a change of occupancy on the property listed on the license in question.
3. 
A license may be suspended or revoked if within a twelve (12) month period the owner and occupant have been notified of three (3) or more acts of conduct by the tenants, or other persons on the property who claim to reside on the property but are not listed on the occupancy permit, which constitute a disturbance or public nuisance to neighbors or the neighborhood; destruction of property; or a danger to the public health, safety or welfare of the surrounding properties. However, under no circumstances shall a residential rental stakeholder be penalized based on a residential rental stakeholder's request for law enforcement or emergency assistance on their own behalf or on behalf of another person in need of assistance or based on criminal activity of which the residential stakeholder is a victim or otherwise not at fault.
4. 
A license may be suspended or revoked if any tenant, resident, or occupant, or any guest or other person under the control of a tenant, resident, or occupant of a residential rental property commits any of the following criminal activities, if it is determined that the tenant, resident, guest or another person under the tenant or resident's control has committed such activities, regardless of whether such person has been convicted of any such activity; but under no circumstances shall a residential rental stakeholder be penalized based on a residential rental stakeholder's request for law enforcement or emergency assistance on their own behalf or on behalf of another person in need of assistance or based on criminal activity of which the residential rental stakeholder is a victim or otherwise not at fault:
a. 
A felony crime under Federal or State laws on or in the immediate vicinity of the residence;
b. 
A Class A misdemeanor under Federal, State or local laws or in the immediate vicinity of the premises;
c. 
Any criminal activity that threatens the health or safety of, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents;
d. 
Any criminal activity that threatens the health or safety of, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of their residents or persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises;
e. 
Any violent criminal activity at or in the immediate vicinity of the premises;
f. 
Any drug-related criminal activity on or in the immediate vicinity of the premises;
g. 
Any abuse of drugs or alcohol that threatens health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents on the premises or persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises;
h. 
Violation(s) of the offenses set forth in Chapter 210 of the Florissant Municipal Code; or
i. 
Violation(s) of nuisance provisions set forth in Chapter 213 of the Florissant Municipal Code.
5. 
A license may be revoked if the owner has more than two (2) suspensions of their license in any twelve (12) month timeframe.
6. 
As a matter of public health and safety, a license may be suspended or revoked in the event that the landlord, property owner or tenant using water, gas, electric, sanitary sewer service or solid waste collection service fails to restore these utility services within fourteen (14) calendar days after receiving notice from the City that the utility service provider is stopping service.
B. 
Any appeal of a suspension or revocation must be made, in writing, to the Director of Public Works or their designee and received by the Director of Public Works or their designee within ten (10) working days of notification of suspension or revocation. The submission of an appeal will stay the suspension or revocation pending the holding of a hearing before a three (3) person panel consisting of a member of the Florissant City Council appointed by the Mayor, a resident of the City of Florissant appointed by the Mayor and an owner of residential rental property located within the City of Florissant who has been appointed by the Mayor, and the issuance of written findings and conclusions by the panel. Such hearing shall be held within a reasonable period of time following receipt of the appeal and written findings and conclusions will be issued within ten (10) days of such hearing.
C. 
Once a license has been suspended, the owner may apply for reinstatement provided that the residential rental property is in full compliance with all applicable codes, and the suspension has been reasonably resolved, and landlord pays one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the re-inspection of the residential rental property that was the subject of the suspension and for the reinstatement of the residential rental license.
D. 
Once a license has been revoked, the owner may apply for reinstatement provided that the residential rental property is in full compliance with applicable codes and the circumstances giving rise to the revocation have been reasonably resolved, a re-inspection of the residential rental property that was the subject of the revocation is completed and found to be in compliance, and the owner pays two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the re-inspection of the residential rental property that was the subject to the revocation and for the reinstatement of the residential rental license.
[Ord. No. 8705, 7-26-2021]
Short term rentals or vacation rentals are prohibited in all residential zoning districts, except for a bed and breakfast establishment, lodging establishment and private clubs where lodging is furnished to members.