(1) 
Every owner or operator shall register each RDU with the RRIP on a form provided by the City. Initial registration applications shall be due within six months after the effective date of this chapter. Newly created RDUs shall be registered no later than 60 days after the owner first acquires or converts the RDU.
(a) 
At the time of registration, the owner shall also provide information, on a form provided by the City, giving contact information for the owner, management and their authorized representatives. Such contact information shall include, at a minimum, the name, telephone number, email address, facsimile number and mailing address of at least one record owner of the property being rented as well as that of the property manager; the address or addresses of such property; a description of the types of dwellings being rented; the number of residential units at the property; and a name, including a business name if applicable, address and telephone number to be used for emergency contacts. The owners and managers shall notify the City within 60 days of any changes to the information provided pursuant to this subsection.
(b) 
When ownership of an RDU changes, the RDU seller shall notify, or shall cause the notification to, the Director of the change of ownership no later than 60 calendar days after consummation of the sale. If the Director is not so notified, the existing rental housing inspection certification for the RDU shall automatically terminate and be null and void. The new owner will not have to pay the program fees until the following fiscal year provided all current fees were paid for the RDU.
(2) 
RDU registration applications shall be subject to verification by the Director. All information on registration applications shall be submitted under penalty of perjury. Any person who makes a false statement in the registration application or submits false information in connection with registration shall be guilty of an infraction.
(3) 
An owner or property manager may self-certify compliance with all applicable building, housing and sanitation codes or ordinances by applying to the self-certification program pursuant to RDMC § 8.40.090(2) on a form provided by the City. Self-certification shall be attested by the tenant if the unit is occupied.
(4) 
Registration must be renewed each fiscal year.
(5) 
Any owner or operator shall designate a local representative who is fully authorized to act for the purposes of this chapter, including acceptance of service of notices from the City and availability to attend inspections. When so designated, the terms "owner" and "operator" as used in this chapter shall be understood as applying to the local representative, as appropriate.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)
(1) 
At the commencement of any tenancy, but prior to occupancy by the tenant, the owner of the rental property, or the manager of such property, shall conduct an inspection of the rental unit. Inspections shall be reported on a form provided by the Department. Inspection reports shall be provided to the occupant(s) prior to occupancy and copies provided to the City within 15 days of the required inspection.
(2) 
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the City, the owner or the owner's authorized representatives shall conduct annual inspections of each rental dwelling. At the time of payment of the rental housing code inspection fee, an owner may opt for annual self-inspection. Inspections shall be reported on a form provided by the Department. Inspection reports shall be provided to the City within 15 days of the required inspection.
(3) 
Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, any rental property that has been subject to a notice and order more than once in the year immediately prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section and for which corrections were not made within the time permitted by the notice and order shall be deemed a problem property and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(4) 
No sooner than one year from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, the City may conduct audits of rental owners to determine compliance with these inspection provisions. Except as provided in this subsection, the City shall review the owner inspection reports when conducting a compliance audit. In the event the City determines that an owner is not in compliance, rental units subject to such noncompliance shall be inspected by the City and the owner shall be required to pay the inspection fee in the amount established by resolution of the City Council.
(5) 
If the City determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that there are deficiencies in any inspection report, it may conduct its own inspection of the property. The form used for such inspection shall be the same form required to be used by owners and managers of rental units. An inspection by the City may be conducted without reference to the original inspection report if code violations are visible from the exterior of the property or if the City receives a complaint concerning code violations at a property.
(6) 
For purposes of any compliance audit, any owner or manager shall provide the inspection report prepared for subsections (1) and (2) of this section to the City and its inspectors. The owner or manager shall provide inspection reports within 72 hours from the date they are requested.
(7) 
A copy of all inspection reports required by this section shall be provided to the tenant no later than 10 calendar days from the completion of the inspection.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)
The owner, operator, property manager or tenant of an RDU may request additional inspections in accordance with this section.
(1) 
An owner, property manager, operator or tenant may request an inspection of an RDU at any time outside of the scheduled inspection calendar. The person requesting the inspection shall be required to pay the inspection fee in the amount established by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)
(1) 
Any rental property subject to a notice and order more than once in any calendar year and for which corrections are not made within the time permitted by the notice and order shall be deemed a problem property.
(2) 
The City shall conduct exterior and interior inspections of such properties at least once per year.
(3) 
The City may, in its sole discretion, determine to inspect other rental properties of an owner of a problem property.
(4) 
A problem property shall not be subject to self-inspection pursuant to RDMC § 8.40.090(2).
(5) 
A property shall no longer be classified as a problem property at such time as it consecutively passes two City inspections.
(6) 
Costs for the inspections required by this subsection shall be billed to and assessed against the specific properties subject to such inspections and shall be in an amount to assure full cost recovery to the City.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)
The following properties shall be exempt from the initial and annual inspections otherwise required by this chapter:
(1) 
Any property during the five years after its initial construction;
(2) 
Any property subject to the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8);
(3) 
Rooms rented to single individuals in an owner-occupied single-family residence;
(4) 
Mobile home park units;
(5) 
Properties inspected by the Rio Dell Fire Protection District, which includes properties containing more than three units.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)
Prior to the commencement of any tenancy, a property owner or manager shall provide the tenant(s) with information concerning tenant rights and responsibilities. Such information shall be provided in a form or forms approved by the City.
(Ord. 401 § 1, 2024)