This chapter shall be known as the "Rental Housing Inspection
Ordinance," and will be referred to herein as "this chapter."
The purpose of this chapter is to establish periodic, systematic
inspection of rental housing within the Township to protect the health
and safety of the public, prevent blight, and preserve property values.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
All applicable provisions of the International Property Maintenance
Code and the International Fire Code as adopted and amended by the
Township.
A sworn or non-sworn inspector, officer, or investigator
appointed by the Township to enforce applicable law.
The areas in a rental housing property that are accessible
to all occupants of the property, including, but not limited to, lobbies,
laundry rooms, recreation areas, common kitchens, hallways, stairs,
courtyards, light wells, garbage areas, boiler rooms, storage rooms,
basements, roof areas, or parking garages or areas.
The Director of the Code Enforcement Department, or his or
her designee.
Renting or offering to rent a rental housing unit.
Any condition associated with real property that presents
a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personal
injury, or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the
environment may occur before such hazard can be eliminated by the
standard enforcement procedures set forth in Section 15.12.060.E of
the International Property Maintenance Code.
An owner-designated person or entity including but not limited
to an attorney, realtor, or property manager with full authority to
act on behalf of the owner for all purposes under this chapter, including
the acceptance of service of all notices from the Township. The owner
of the rental housing unit may act as the local agent. The local agent
shall be required to maintain residency or have an office within a
fifty-mile radius of the rental housing unit. A proposed local agent
not meeting this residency/office criteria may be approved by the
Township at the Township's sole discretion.
A person, persons, corporation, partnership, limited-liability
company, or any other entity holding fee title to or exercise control
of the rental housing property or rental housing unit.
All commons areas, accessory structures, buildings, facilities,
rental housing units, and land located within the confines of the
property where the rental housing unit is located.
A single unit providing living facilities for one or more
persons that has permanent provisions for living, sleeping, and sanitation
and is rented or available for rent to tenants. This includes but
shall not be limited to boarding homes, boarding rooms, and hotels.
A person or persons residing within a rental housing unit.
All rental housing properties and rental housing units shall
comply with applicable law including but not limited to the standards
and requirements of the International Property Maintenance Code and
the International Fire Code, as amended.
This chapter applies to all rental housing properties and rental housing units within the Township including any owner or tenant as defined in § 247-3 herein. Nothing in this chapter shall limit or prohibit the authority of Township officers or employees from enforcing any other provision of this Code or any state or federal law under their jurisdiction. None of the inspection provisions shall prohibit, condition, or otherwise limit any inspection conducted under any other provision of this Code or other applicable law including but not limited to the currently adopted version of the International Property Maintenance Code and the International Fire Code, as amended.
All rental housing properties and rental housing units shall
be subject to the requirements of this chapter, except for the following:
A.
Rental housing units that have been newly constructed, for a period
of one year from the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
