There shall be a rental inspection requirement for rental residential units.
(1) 
Definition.
Any single-family or two-family residence which is rented, leased, or otherwise occupied by a person other than the owner at the time the residence becomes vacant. A rental residence shall be vacant:
(A) 
When the prior occupants vacate the residence, regardless of the period of time before new occupants occupy the residence; or
(B) 
When any utility service is shut off or transferred to a new occupant’s name because of a change of occupants.
(2) 
Inspection required.
(A) 
All rental residences will be subject to inspection for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the minimum housing standards set forth in the Code of Ordinances.
(B) 
Each rental residence shall be inspected by the city not more than once annually. Follow-up inspections shall be conducted as necessary to verify compliance with the minimum housing standards set forth in the Code of Ordinances.
(C) 
The city is authorized to obtain a warrant to conduct an inspection permitted by this section when consent to enter the property has been refused or otherwise cannot be obtained.
(3) 
Enforcement.
(A) 
If the inspection by the building inspector reveals the building is not in compliance with the building code, the building inspector shall give notice of noncompliance to the owner, who shall bring the building into compliance within 10 days of the date of the notice. If corrections are not made within the 10 days, the building inspector shall pursue correction in accordance with the building code.
(B) 
The owner must obtain all permits required for the work needed to bring the building into compliance with the building code.
(C) 
A building that is under a substandard building order by the city council shall be repaired or demolished pursuant to that order rather than this subsection.
(4) 
Inspection fees.
(A) 
When a residence is inspected under the provisions of this section, the owner of the property shall complete an application for rental inspection release and pay an inspection fee to the city. An additional inspection fee will be charged for each time (up to two inspection trips):
(i) 
The owner or the owner’s representative fails to meet the inspector at the residence at the appointed time;
(ii) 
The owner has not completed all repairs required and calls for reinspection; or
(iii) 
The inspector is otherwise prevented from inspecting the building through no fault of the city.
(B) 
The building inspector will not inspect a building unless the owner or a representative of the owner, who is at least 18 years of age, is present.
(C) 
The fees for inspections under this section are as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 853 adopted 1/9/07; 2004 Code, sec. 3.401; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code)
In addition to the other requirements set forth in this article, before the first tenant takes possession of a dwelling unit that is rented, smoke detectors shall be installed in such dwelling unit in accordance with the currently adopted edition of the International Residential Code and section 92.255 of the Texas Property Code. Notwithstanding the above, if the dwelling unit was occupied as a residence on or before September 1, 1981, or the building permit for the dwelling unit was issued on or before that date, smoke detectors shall be installed in such dwelling unit in accordance with sections 92.255 and 92.257 of the Texas Property Code.
(Ordinance 766 adopted 11/9/04; 2004 Code, sec. 3.402; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code)