[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Stowe as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 1-10-1989 by Ord. No. 721 (Ch. 11, Part 1, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. 1011]
Any person who hereinafter rents, purchases, owns or otherwise occupies any dwelling in the Township of Stowe must apply for and obtain an occupancy permit in conformance with this article and obtain appropriate and satisfactory inspection and approval by the Building Inspector of the Township of Stowe. Prior to entering into any said premises, occupying the same or making any improvements or changes upon the same, any person, or his agent, must apply to the Secretary of the Township of Stowe for an occupancy permit. No permit will be issued unless the owner complies with the Township's biannual safety inspection.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. 1011]
All owners of real estate, including uninhabited and or vacant properties, shall have the obligation to see that an occupancy permit is obtained prior to the change of occupancy of any dwelling. Said obligation on the owners of real estate will apply irrespective of the number of units for lease or rent. However, any occupancy of a premises for a period in excess of seven days shall be presumed to be a permanent occupancy of said premises, and the occupant thereof shall be deemed to be a resident.
All such owners and occupiers of real estate must furnish to the Township Secretary within 10 days of the signing of a lease, or occupancy of any premises, whichever occurs first, a notification of occupancy as defined in the following section.
The notification of occupancy to be completed by each owner, agent, rental agent, tenant or an occupier of any premises shall include the following:
A. 
Address of the dwelling or rental unit.
B. 
Name and address of the owner and rental agent, if any.
C. 
Name and address of the tenant or tenants, including the name of each occupant together with age and relationship.
D. 
Terms of lease or rental, if applicable.
E. 
When conveyance of title was made, if applicable.
[Amended 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 760]
A. 
In the case of single-family and/or two-family dwellings, an occupancy permit is required when the building is ready for occupancy; thereafter, a new occupancy permit is required for each new occupant. In a multifamily dwelling or apartment, an occupancy permit is required when the building is ready for occupancy for each tenant; thereafter, a new occupancy permit is required for each change of occupancy. This permit pertains to any new occupant hereafter. The fee for a residential occupancy permit shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
B. 
For commercial structures, storerooms, office buildings and industrial buildings, an occupancy permit is required for the original owner or tenant; a new occupancy permit is required for each tenant thereafter prior to their moving into the structure or portion thereof. Each storeroom in a shopping center or line of storerooms is considered a separate occupancy. The fee for each commercial permit shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this article for any owner and/or his agent to lease, rent or otherwise permit the occupancy of any dwelling under his or their respective ownership and/or control without having first filed with the Township Secretary the notice of occupancy as set forth and required hereinabove. It shall further be a violation for an owner or his agent to collect rent or lease payments from any tenant for any dwelling unit without having first complied with the obligations of this article.
B. 
It shall be a violation of this article for any person to occupy any premises as an owner or otherwise without having first complied with this article.
C. 
Each day in violation of this article shall be a separate violation and subject to the maximum penalty herein.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. 1011]
Any person who is not satisfying the penalty within 15 of a previous fine shall be subject to an additional fine of not less than $100. Additionally, any person who continues to violate this article and is found guilty of a second offense shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $600, and such fines shall double in nature for any subsequent violation.