The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all rental dwelling
units within the Town of Portsmouth except hotels, motels, community
residences, and the rental of rooms in an owner-occupied dwelling
unit.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
BEDROOM
Any room in a residential structure which is greater than
70 square feet in area, which is susceptible to present or future
use as a private sleeping area, which has at least one window and
one interior method of entry and egress but excluding closets and
bathrooms.
DWELLING UNIT
A structure or portion thereof providing complete, independent
living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions
for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, and containing
a separate means of ingress and egress.
LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE
A person designated on a registration form filed under this
chapter as the person authorized to receive any process, notice or
demand required or permitted to be served upon the owner of the premises.
A local representative may, but need not, also serve as property manager.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
The rental, lease or other contractual arrangement for the
occupation of a dwelling unit by a tenant for residential and/or dwelling
purposes, for any period of less than 31 consecutive days.
The rental registration form shall indicate the Tax Assessor's
plat and lot number, address of the rental dwelling unit, the number
of rental dwelling units therein, the name, permanent mailing address
and telephone number of the record owner and of his or her registered
agent, broker, agent, manager or other representative, and the usual
period of occupancy by tenants (monthly, weekly or other). Copies
of the registration form, with contact information for the local representative,
will be held on file by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments.
On or before December 31 of each year, the record owner of the
rental dwelling unit shall file the completed rental registration
form with the Registrar, which registration shall be valid for a one-year
period from January 1 to December 31 of the following year. If the
property is registered during the calendar year, the registration
shall be valid until December 31 of that same year.
There shall be a registration fee of $100 for each dwelling
unit covered under the provisions of this chapter.
The record owner shall post in plain view, in a conspicuous
place within the rental dwelling unit, a notice containing the ordinances
of the Town with regard to the Noise Ordinance, dog leash law, dwelling occupancy limits, and any other
pertinent ordinance or law which the Town Council may deem appropriate
from time to time. Such notices shall be available at the office of
the Registrar. The record owner or any person in control or possession
of said rental dwelling unit subject to the provisions of this chapter
shall cause a copy of the current short-term rental agreement with
the printed names of all renters, and the registration form and permit
required by this chapter to be posted or affixed to the inside of
the primary access door to said dwelling unit so as to allow the lease
and registration form to be readily available for inspection by police,
zoning, building, or minimum housing officials of the Town of Portsmouth.
This chapter shall take effect upon passage, provided, however,
that enforcement of violations shall be stayed until December 31,
2018.