[HISTORY: Adopted by the Commissioners of the Town of Princess Anne 6-7-1999 by Ord. No. 99-05. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following terms, whenever used herein, shall have the same meaning assigned unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
DWELLING or DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof arranged or designed for residential occupancy, including but not limited to an apartment, accessory apartment, efficiency apartment, boardinghouse, rooming house, single-family dwelling and multifamily dwelling.
It shall be unlawful for any person to rent a dwelling or dwelling unit within the Town of Princess Anne until the required residential rental license has been applied for and obtained as set forth herein, subject only to the twenty-day grace period set forth below.
[Amended 3-6-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-03; 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
Within 20 days of the enactment of this chapter, the legal owner of record or his or her agent shall make an application at the Code Enforcement Office for a residential rental license on forms to be provided by the Town. Such application shall be submitted together with a license fee as set by the President and Commissioners by resolution from time to time. Any owner or agent who has applied for a license will be permitted to rent the dwelling unit until the application can be processed, the inspection hereinbelow is made and the application is either approved or denied.
[Amended 3-6-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-03; 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3; 4-10-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-3]
A residential rental license shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of application or until the ownership of the property is transferred, whichever occurs first. Each license shall be renewed on or before the anniversary date of its application. The fee for the renewal shall be as set by the President and Commissioners by resolution from time to time. The fee shall be waived for an existing residential rental unit owner(s), provided that the owner or the owner’s agent applies for the residential rental license within 20 days after the final passage of this chapter.
A. 
A residential rental license shall only be issued or renewed after the Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Princess Anne has determined that the unit for which such license is sought is in compliance with the laws and ordinances of the Town and the proper fee has been paid. In order to make such determination, the Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect the unit, including all common areas and property under the same ownership. The fees for inspections shall be as determined by the President and Commissioners by resolution from time to time.
[Amended 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3; 4-10-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-3]
B. 
Permission for such an inspection, without having to obtain any further permission or a judicial warrant, is a condition for the issuance of any license, and failure to permit such an inspection shall constitute reason to deny or not renew a license.
C. 
In the event that a violation is found by the Code Enforcement Officer, he or she shall provide written notice of the violation to the owner of the property or his or her agent at the address shown on the license application, and the owner has 15 days from the date of said notice to correct said violation and notify the Code Enforcement Officer so that he or she may reinspect to determine compliance.
[Amended 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
D. 
The decision of the Code Enforcement Officer to disapprove an application for a residential rental license may be appealed by the applicant to the Town Manager and Town Commissioners by requesting an appeal in writing within 10 days of the notice of disapproval. In the event that an appeal is noted by the applicant, the appeal shall act as a stay on the disapproval until a decision by the Town Commissioners.
A license may be suspended by the Code Enforcement Officer if he or she finds that any provision of this chapter has not been complied with. Such suspension shall occur only after written notice of such violation has been provided to the owner or his or her agent at the address shown on the application and a reasonable time has been afforded to the owner to correct the violations. The owner may note an appeal under the provision set forth in § 120-5D, and such appeal will stay the suspension until completed.
[Amended 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
Every owner or agent must produce and show, on demand by a prospective tenant or tenants, a valid residential rental license for the dwelling rented or to be rented. In addition, the rental license must be displayed in a place (common area) within the dwelling so as to be easily viewed.
A. 
A violation of this chapter shall be declared to be a municipal infraction and shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, General Penalty, of this Code.
B. 
If the penalty shall go unpaid for a period of 10 days after receipt of such infraction, the penalty will be assessed against the property, and if the same is not paid within the time aforesaid, then the amount thereof or so much thereof as shall remain unpaid shall be assessed against the property involved and collected in the same manner that town taxes are now collected by law.
C. 
Failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of this chapter may, in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in place thereof, be restrained, prohibited or enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction.