No person, firm, or corporation shall operate or rent to another, or provide for residential occupancy with compensation, any dwelling unit or rooming unit until successfully licensing the rental property as follows:
1.
One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, which are offered for rent or lease as a living facility for a minimum of 6 months.
2.
Apartments and other applicable residential occupancies which are offered for rent or lease as a living facility for one or more consecutive days with compensation. Hotels, motels, convents, monasteries, dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and occupancy types at assisted living facilities are excluded from the provisions of rental housing and rental housing licensing.
Lodging Homes/Bed and Breakfasts are required to license their property in accordance with this section prior to occupancy.
802.1.1 
Licensing Exemptions:
1. 
Post-settlement occupancy. When as part of a property sales agreement, the owner of an owner-occupied single-family residential property negotiates a post-settlement agreement to stay in the property after the transfer of ownership to the purchaser, for a maximum of 180 days, the property is not required to have a rental housing license.
2. 
Subsidized rental unit exemption. Dwelling units that receive federal, state or county funding and receive an annual inspection through that funding program are exempt from the rental housing licensing and inspection program. Evidence of registration and inspection is needed to receive this exemption.
3. 
Licensed facilities. Residential group home and health-care facilities in possession of a current license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be exempt from the rental housing licensing and inspection program.
4. 
Accessory dwelling units. Approval for accessory dwelling units is to be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Department.
5. 
Family members. The owner of a single-family residential property does not require a rental housing license for adult individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption to reside in the owner's dwelling, or a portion thereof, regardless of compensation.
802.1.2 
Occupancy prior to licensing.
Occupancy of any rental property prior to licensure is a violation of this code.
Within 120 days after the effective date of this Ordinance, the property owner or responsible local agent shall apply for Rental Housing License for each regulated rental unit or group thereof.
Applications for licenses shall be made to the Manheim Township Department of Code Compliance on forms furnished by said office. Applications for rental housing licensing and applications for the renewal of rental housing licenses shall be filled out completely and accurately including addresses and telephone numbers for both the owner(s), and responsible local agent. The rental housing license shall not be issued or renewed if an application does not contain all required information.
The code official shall approve a Rental Housing License Application upon proof that all the following requirements have been satisfied:
1. 
Zoning use has been verified and approved as part of application;
2. 
The applicant has signed and dated the application acknowledging their responsibility to provide a fit and habitable rental unit complete with functional life safety systems;
3. 
A proper rental housing licensure fee has been submitted;
4. 
No open/outstanding code enforcement cases or open/expired permits exist for said property.
Rental housing licenses shall be renewed annually, on or before the license expiration date of each year. Rental housing licenses shall become null and void upon permittee's failure to submit the required or proper annual rental housing licensure fee. No reduction shall be made for fractional yearly licenses.
Once a license has expired a rental housing license must be obtained prior to renting or offering the unit or structure for rent in accordance with this code. This unit or structure must comply with all provisions of this code in accordance with a first-time rental license application.
Housing licenses shall be transferable upon change of ownership, providing the permitted use has not changed. The new owner or responsible local agent is required to notify the Department of Code Compliance upon change of ownership within 15 calendar days of said transfer.
The housing license shall be made available by the owner/operator within 24 hours upon a request by any party or may be displayed. The issuance of a housing license to an owner/operator shall constitute consent for an inspection. The rental housing license is and shall remain the property of Manheim Township.
A late fee shall be imposed for rental housing license renewals received after April 1. Rental housing license late fees shall be established by fee resolution.
A license or rental unit inspection by itself shall not warrant that a rental unit is lawful, safe, habitable or in compliance with all Township Codes and Ordinances.