(a) 
The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety, morals and welfare of the citizens of the city by establishing an inspection program for minimum standards applicable to residential rental units as set out in this article.
(b) 
This article is remedial and essential to the public interest, and it is intended that this article be liberally construed to effect its purpose. All residential rental structures within the city on the effective date of this article, or constructed thereafter, must comply with the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)
Owner-occupied.
Occupied by a person and his or her immediate family, his or her spouse, and children, said person claiming, or in whom is vested, the ownership, dominion, or title of real property, including, but not limited to:
(1) 
The holder of fee simple title;
(2) 
The holder of a life estate;
(3) 
The holder of a leasehold estate for an initial term of 5 years or more;
(4) 
The buyer in a contract for deed; and
(5) 
The mortgagee, receiver, executor, or trustee in control of real property;
but not including the holder of a leasehold estate or tenancy for an initial term of less than 5 years.
Person.
Any individual, corporation, organization, partnership, association, or any other legal entity.
Renter.
A person claiming, or in whom is vested, a leasehold estate or tenancy for an initial term of less than 5 (five) years.
Residential rental unit.
A structure, including a single-family home, that is rented or leased for a initial term of less than 5 (five) years and that is not solely owner-occupied, and includes all units in a multi-unit dwelling of which one or more units are owner-occupied.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)
The housing official established in this article shall act as the city building official for purposes of inspections for certificates of occupancy.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)
(a) 
For the purpose of ascertaining whether violations of the city ordinances of this city concerning building standards exist, the city building official is authorized, at a reasonable time, to inspect:
(1) 
The exterior of a residential rental unit and premises which contain no structure; and
(2) 
The interior of a residential rental unit, if the permission of the owner, occupant, or person in control is given.
(b) 
The city building official is authorized to inspect, at a reasonable time, the records of a person who operates a structure to determine if the structure is a residential rental unit.
(c) 
The city building official shall have the power to obtain search warrants allowing the inspection of any specified premises to determine the presence of a health hazard or unsafe building condition, including but not limited to any structural, property, or utility hazard, or a violation of any health or building regulation, statute or ordinance.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)
(a) 
No owner shall operate a residential rental unit without a certificate of occupancy. Application for the certificate of occupancy must be renewed upon transfer of the leasehold to a new renter on a form prescribed by the city building official.
(b) 
No person shall occupy a residential rental unit without a certificate of occupancy.
(c) 
The city building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to an applicant if the residential rental unit complies with the standards of this article and, if a newly built structure, with the building code as adopted by the city.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)
(a) 
Fees for the operation of residential rental units shall be as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
For purposes of computing fees required by subsection (a), all units of a residential rental unit will be considered.
(Ordinance 486-14 adopted 1/15/15)