[R.O. 1993 § 502.010; Ord. No. 2820 § 1, 4-9-2014]
The City Council of the City of Charleston, Missouri, hereby
declares it is the public policy of the City and the purpose of this
Chapter to eliminate dilapidated, unsafe, dangerous, unhealthy, unkempt
and unsightly rental housing that endangers public health and safety
and is detrimental to the aesthetics of neighborhoods, and to encourage
owners and occupants of residential rental housing to improve and
maintain such housing in accordance with the City's building
codes, property maintenance codes and residential rental property
inspection criteria set forth herein. This Chapter shall be deemed
an exercise of the police powers of the City of Charleston, Missouri,
for the promotion and protection of the public health, safety, welfare,
peace and prosperity of the residents of the City of Charleston, Missouri.
[R.O. 1993 § 502.020; Ord. No. 2820 § 1, 4-9-2014]
For the purposes of this Chapter the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein unless
the context otherwise indicates:
Shall include separate living quarters designed for human
occupancy, consisting of one (1) or more rooms designed or used for
sleeping, cooking, eating, toilet and/or bathing purposes, by a single
person or two (2) or more persons residing together as a family.
Shall include any person who physically resides within or
occupies a dwelling unit within residential rental property as a tenant
of the owner thereof or as a member of the tenant's immediate
family.
Shall include any person, firm or corporation having legal
or equitable rights of ownership, whether as sole owner or co-owner
with another, with respect to any residential rental property located
within the City of Charleston, Missouri, and any person acting or
claiming to act as the lawful authorized agent of such owner, including
but not limited to a real estate agent, attorney-in-fact acting under
a power of attorney, guardian, conservator, trustee and personal representative
of a deceased owner's estate. An "owner" also shall include a
tenant who has the lawful right to sublease such property with or
without the consent of the owner.
Shall include any house, apartment building, duplex or other
building or structure, or portion thereof located within the City
of Charleston, Missouri, containing one (1) or more dwelling units
available or offered for lease or rent (including a transfer of possession
pursuant to a "contract for deed") to another person or persons other
than the owner or the owner's relatives by blood or marriage,
in exchange for remuneration or services of any kind. This definition
shall include that portion of a commercial building used primarily
for business purposes to the extent such portion thereof is used or
is available or offered for use as a dwelling unit.
Shall include any person (other than the owner or the owner's
relatives by blood or marriage) who occupies a residential rental
property or dwelling unit located therein in exchange for cash, goods,
services or other remuneration of any kind to the owner thereof.
