[Adopted 12-14-1988 by Ord. No. 2986 (Art. 1197 of the 1965
Codified Ordinances)]
No person shall operate a rooming house, or
occupy or let to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming
house, unless he holds a rooming house permit issued by the Chief
Codes Administrator. This permit shall be posted in a conspicuous
place in the rooming house.
Application for a permit shall be made by the
operator to the Chief Codes Administrator on forms furnished by the
Chief Codes Administrator and shall include the following:
A.
The name and address of the operator, and the name
and address of the owner if the operator is not the owner.
B.
The location of the rooming house, including the street
and number of each entrance.
C.
The number of rooming units occupied or available for occupancy and
the number of persons who may be accommodated in accordance with the
provisions of the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Easton
and with the regulations issued thereunder.[1]
[Amended 8-26-2015 by Ord. No. 5513; 4-10-2019 by Ord. No. 5673]
D.
Such other information as the Chief Codes Administrator
may require.
A permit shall be issued by the Chief Codes
Administrator upon reasonable proof that:
In the event a permit is denied, the Chief Codes
Administrator shall give prompt written notice to the applicant.
The permit fee as specified in Chapter 285, Fees, shall be paid to the City License Officer. No reduction in the fee shall be made for fractional yearly permits. The permit shall expire at the end of the calendar year in which it is issued and shall be renewed annually at the rate established for the initial permit fee.
Permits are not transferable. The operator shall
promptly notify, in writing, the Chief Codes Administrator of any
transfer of the dwelling to a new owner.
The operator shall at all times keep an up-to-date
list of registrants in a bound volume and in which there shall be
set forth, in ink, the name and last permanent address and signature
of each occupant. Registration of a false name is prohibited.
Any person who operates a rooming house without a currently valid permit issued by the Chief Codes Administrator or who violates any other provision of this article shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Article I of this chapter.
[Amended 2-11-2009 by Ord. No. 5178; 8-26-2015 by Ord. No. 5513; 4-10-2019 by Ord. No. 5673]
Any person whose application for a rooming house permit has been denied for the reason that the rooming house does not comply with the applicable provisions of the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Easton, or the rules and regulations issued thereunder as required shall, upon request, be granted a hearing before the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals under the procedure provided by Article I of this chapter. The petition for a hearing shall be filed within 10 days from the day written notice of denial is received by the applicant. If the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals does not sustain the denial of the permit, the Chief Codes Administrator shall issue the permit forthwith.
[Amended 2-11-2009 by Ord. No. 5178; 8-26-2015 by Ord. No. 5513; 4-10-2019 by Ord. No. 5673]
Whenever the Chief Codes Administrator determines that conditions or practices exist in the operation of a rooming house which are in violation of the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Easton or of any other regulation issued thereunder, notice shall be given to the operator under the procedure provided by Article I of this chapter. The operator shall, upon request, be granted a hearing before the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals under the procedure provided by Article I of this chapter. If the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals sustains the notice of the Chief Codes Administrator or if a request for a hearing is not made within 10 days from the day the notice was served, the Chief Codes Administrator shall revoke the permit if the operator does not comply with the order of the Chief Codes Administrator within the period prescribed in such order.
[Amended 2-11-2009 by Ord. No. 5178; 4-10-2019 by Ord. No. 5673]
If the Chief Codes Administrator determines that an emergency
exists which necessitates immediate action to protect the public health,
safety or welfare, he may direct that a service of notice under this
section shall constitute a suspension of the permit until the suspension
is lifted by action of the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals or
by compliance with the notice or order of the Chief Codes Administrator
or until the permit is revoked by failure to comply with the order
of the Chief Codes Administrator. When a rooming house permit has
been suspended or revoked, the operator shall immediately cease operation
of the rooming house and no person may occupy any rooming unit therein.
The operator of every rooming house shall change
all supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once a week and
prior to letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be
responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding, linens and
towels in a clean and sanitary manner.
The occupancy of any rooming unit in an establishment
subject to certification and/or licensing by an unemancipated minor
is hereby prohibited, and the operator and occupant of the premises
in which such occupancy occurs shall be liable hereunder.
Every licensed establishment shall have exit
signs posted in common hallways visible from the door of every rooming
unit, which signs shall indicate the direction of and location of
the nearest means of egress. All such signs shall be of a size and
color and be illuminated in accordance with the regulations of the
Chief Codes Administrator.
[Amended 4-10-2019 by Ord. No. 5673]
Every room, bathroom, closet, storage area or other space within the structure shall be numbered for identification purposes in accordance with § 435-15D(3) of this Code of the City of Easton.
