HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-16-Ordinance 2894_Residential Rental CodeORDINANCE NO.2894
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 222 BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS AND
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE WAUKEE MUNICIPAL CODE TO INSERT
SECTION 222A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL CODE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE,IOWA:
SECTION 1.PURPOSE.The purpose of this ordinance is to establish a Residential
Rental Code outlining procedures for the inspection of apartment houses,congregate residences,
rental dwellings and sleeping units to be known as the Waukee Residential Rental Code.
SECTION 2.AMENDMENT.Chapter 222A,Residential Rental Code,of the
Waukee Code of Ordinances is hereby established and adopted as follows:
$222A.1 Purpose.
A.In compliance with Chapter 364.17 of the Iowa Code,it is the purpose of this
chapter to require property owners,their agents and others who rent residential
dwelling/sleeping units to meet their responsibilities with respect to premise safety
and to provide for inspection as a means of compelling compliance therewith.It is
not the purpose of this Chapter to create any duty on the part of the city,its officers,
agents or employees,owing to any individual member of the public or to protect any
particular or circumscribed class of persons.Specifically,it is not the intent of this
Chapter to create any duty or liability by the city,its officers,agents or employees,
to premises'occupants,owners,tenants or any other person.
B.No person shall place reliance upon this chapter,any inspections performed or
certificates issued pursuant to this chapter,as indicating the safety of or quality of
consnuction of any particular premises.Neither this chapter nor inspections made
pursuant thereto nor certificates issued are intended to assume the duty of any
person to adequately construct and maintain a premises or provide a safe premises
or to,in any way,indicate a decrease in the risk associated with the use of
occupancy of any premises.A certification that the premises have been inspected
pursuant to this chapter shall not in any way constitute a warranty or guarantee of
the safety or quality of the premises.
$222A.2 Scope.The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the maintenance,
repair,equipment,use and occupancy of all residential rental buildings and accessory structures
now in existence or hereafter constructed,habilitated,renovated or converted to residential use
within the corporate limits,including,but not limited to,single and two-family dwellings,multiple-
family dwellings and rooming/sleeping units with the following exceptions:
A.Single-family dwellings occupied by the owner,or members of that owner's
immediate family.Such members are defined as parents,grandparents,children and
grandchildren.
B.A duplex,at least one of the units of which is occupied by the owner,and the other
unit is occupied by a member of that owner's immediate family.Such members are
defined as parents,grandparents,children and grandchildren.
C.Transient shelters and group homes subject to state licensing.
D.Hotels,motels,extended stay hotels,and other similar uses subject to state
licensing.
tj222A.3 Code Adopted.For the purposes of this Residential Rental Code,the
International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)2015 and Appendix A therein along with the
other provisions within this Chapter are hereby adopted and shall be further known as the City of
Waukee Residential Rental Code.An official copy of the international property maintenance code,
2015 edition,as adopted,and a certified copy of this chapter can be viewed in the development
services deparunent.
tj222A.4 Code Reference.
A.Building Codes Referenced.The International Building Code,International
Residential Code,International Fire Code,National Electric Code,International
Plumbing Code,International Mechanical Code,and International Fuel Gas Code
that is adopted and enforced at the time of inspection is adopted,as referenced for
requirements,location and maintenance of building elements needed to provide
Structural,Fire and Building Safety for occupants.This includes but is not limited
to stairways,smoke detectors,sprinklers,handrails/guardrails,lighting and exits
unless otherwise stated in this Chapter.
B.Public Health.Those nuisances and or public health conditions not addressed by
other Chapters of the Waukee Code of Ordinances shall be governed and regulated
by the Dallas County Department of Health.
tj222A.5 Interpretation.
A.In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter,such provisions shall
be held to the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health,
safety,and welfare.These regulations shall be construed broadly to promote the
purposes for which they are adopted.
B.These regulations are not intended to interfere with,abrogate,or annul any other
ordinance,rule or regulation,statute,private covenants or other provision of law
except as provided in these regulations.If a conflict between requirements appears
within this chapter,the most restrictive requirement shall prevail.
C.Information erroneously presented by any official or employee of the city does not
negate or diminish the provisions of this chapter pertaining thereto.
D.Whenever a number of days is specified in this Chapter,or in any permit,
condition of approval or notice issued or given as set forth in this Chapter,such
number of days shall be deemed to be consecutive calendar days,unless otherwise
specified.
E.Whenever application of this Chapter results in standards being expressed in
fractions of whole numbers,such fractions are to be rounded to the next higher
whole number.
F.No action of the city,its city council,development services department staff or
the board of appeals shall be deemed invalid by reason of failure to comply with
or conform to the provisions of this Chapter,provided that the procedural
requirements of the code of Iowa have been met.
G.It is the intent of this Chapter that all questions of interpretation and enforcement
shall be first presented to the administrative official,and that such questions shall
be presented to the Board of Appeals only on appeal from the decision of the
administrative official and that recourse from the decision of the Board of Appeals
shall be as provided by law.
$222A.6 Indemnification.The applicant for any rental certificate under this
Chapter,by making such application,assumes and agrees to pay for all loss or damage to
property whatsoever,and injury to or death of any person or persons whomsoever,including all
costs and expenses incident thereto,however arising from or in connection with or related to the
issuance of such rental certificate or the doing of anything thereunder,or the failure of such
applicant,or the agents,employees or servants of such applicant,to abide by or comply with any
of the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinance of the city;and such applicant,by making
such application,forever indemnifies the city,its officers and employees and agrees to save it and
them harmless from any and all claims,demands,lawsuits or liability whatsoever for any loss,
damage,injury or death,costs and expenses,by reason of the foregoing even though acts or
omissions of the city,its officers or employees may have caused or contributed thereto.The
foregoing provisions shall be deemed to be a part of any certificate issued under this Chapter
whether expressly recited therein or not.
$222A.7 Building Inspector.It shall be the duty of the building official,
appointed under provisions of the development services director,to administer and enforce the
provisions of this chapter and to make any required inspections or tests.For the purposes of this
code he/she may also be referred to as the code official.A person or persons may be appointed as
assistants or agents of the building official as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
chapter.For the purpose of making inspections,tests,or otherwise discharging his/her official
duties,the code official and/or inspector shall have the right to enter at any time any building,
site,or manhole upon notifying the company or individual owning or having charge or control of
the same.
tj222A.8 Fees.The fees for activities and services performed by the development
services department in carrying out its responsibilities under this code shall be as indicated in a
fee schedule adopted from time to time by the city council.
tj222A.9 Deletions.The following sections are deleted from the property
maintenance code and are of no force or effect in this chapter:
A.
B.
C.
Section 103 Department of Property Maintenance
Section 106 Violations
Section 111 Means of Appeal
)222A.I 0 Amendments,Modifications,Additions and Deletions.The following
amendments,modifications and additions to the International Property Maintanence Code
(IPMC)2015 Edition,are hereby made:
A.Amend Section 101.1.Title by inserting City of Waukee,Iowa as name of
jurisdiction.
B.Amend Section 101.2.Scope by deleting "residential and nonresidential"and
replacing it with "residential rental"so that the scope of this ordinance and code is
limited to rental housing only.
C.Amend Section 102.3 by deleting "International Zoning Code"and inserting
"applicable codes that are adopted by the City of Waukee".
Amend Section 103.1,General,by deleting "the department of property
maintenance inspection"and inserting "Development Services Department".
Amend Section 104.2,Failure to Comply by deleting "shall be liable to a fine of
not less than [AMOUNT]dollars or more than [AMOUNT]dollars"and adding
the following sentence thereto:"Failure to comply with a Rental Housing
Inspection Order is a violation and is considered a municipal infraction.
Amend Section 202.General Definitions to add the following:
"Agent"means an individual of legal majority who has been designated by the
owner as the agent of the owner or manager of the property under the provisions
of this chapter.
"Apartment House Or Multi-Family Residence"means any building or portion
thereof which is designed,rented,leased,or hired out to be occupied,or which is
occupied as a dwelling or residence of two (2)or more families living
independently of each other and doing their own cooking in said building.
"Bed and Breakfast"means an owner-occupied dwelling unit that contains more
than one (I)guest room where lodging,with or without meals,is provided for
compensation.
"Dwelling Unit"means a single unit providing complete independent living
facilities for a family,including permanent provisions for living,sleeping,eating,
cooking and sanitation.For the purposes of this definition,a bed,day bed,couch,
futon or other similar multipurpose sleeping furniture shall constitute the
provisions for sleeping.Similarly,a hotplate,microwave,toaster oven or similar
cooking appliance shall constitute the provisions for cooking.
"Hotel"means one or more buildings containing six (6)or more guest rooms,with
such rooms being designed,intended to be used,or are used as temporary or
overnight accommodations for guests in which daily services of linen change,
central telephone switchboard,towel change,general cleaning,and a registration
lobby staffed on a twenty-four (24)hour daily basis are provided by the
management.Access to all rooms shall be provided through one (I)or more
common entrance(s).All hotels shall be licensed and inspected by the state of
Iowa in accordance with chapter 137C of the Iowa Code.
"Hotel,Extended Stay"means one or more buildings containing six (6)or more
guest rooms with the provisions necessary for living,sleeping,eating,cooking and
sanitation,with such guest rooms being designed,intended to be used,or are used
as a temporary residence not exceeding six (6)months,which weekly services of
linen change,central telephone switchboard,towel change,general cleaning,and a
registration lobby staffed on a twenty-four (24)hour daily basis are provided by
the management.Access to all rooms shall be provided through one (I)or more
common entrance(s).All extended stay hotels shall be licensed and inspected by
the state of Iowa in accordance with chapter 137C of the Iowa Code.
"Kitchen"means any room or portion of rooms which are occupied or are
intended and designed to be used for cooking and preparation of food,including
any room having a sink and provisions for either a gas or electric stove.
In addition to the above definitions,the following criteria shall be utilized to
determine if the intent of a single family dwelling unit has been met:
1.There shall not be more than one kitchen for each single family zoned
property address with the following exception:additional sinks,wet-bars,
or kitchen areas will not be considered an additional kitchen provided
walls,floors,and locking doors,as specified below,do not separate the
dwelling into multiple tenant use.
2.There shall not be more than one electric meter,gas meter,or water
meter for each single family zoned property address.
3.There shall not be any walls or floor/ceiling assemblies in any single
family zoned property address,which separates the one-family dwelling
into more than one unit.Determining factors shall include locked or
locking interior doors and separate entrances,which make portions of the
unit inaccessible to all "family"members.
"Motel"means one or more buildings containing six (6)or more guest rooms,
with such rooms being designed,intended to be used,or are used as temporary or
overnight accommodations for guests in which daily services of linen change,
central telephone switchboard,towel change,general cleaning,and a registration
lobby staffed on a twenty-four (24)hour daily basis are provided by the
management.Individual access to each room shall be provided from outside of the
building.Each room may be equipped with cooking facilities.All motels shall be
licensed and inspected by the state of Iowa in accordance with chapter 137C of the
Iowa Code.
"Rental Certificate"means a certificate that is issued by the development services
department after written application if the dwelling unit,at the date of such
application,is entitled thereto.Such a certificate shall thereafter be known as a
rental certificate.
"Rental Unit"means any house or building or portion thereof which is occupied in
whole or part as a home or residence of one or more tenants,on a rental basis,or
when,in return for housing,a tenant agrees to occupy and maintain the premises
and pay utilities.A dwelling unit that is being rented for a period of ninety (90)
days or less in a single calendar year or a portion of such dwelling unit shall be
exempt from this chapter.
"Tenant"means:(i)a person occupying a dwelling unit who pays (or has
payments made on his or her behalf)a stated payment at fixed intervals for the use
of the dwelling unit;or (ii)a person occupying a dwelling unit owned by another
individual,who,in return for housing,agrees to occupy and maintain the premises
and pay utilities.
G.Amend Section 302.4 Weeds,by deleting (jurisdiction to insert height in inches)
and inserting "12 inches on the average".
H.Amend Section 304.14 Insect Screens by inserting April 15'"to October 15a as
applicable dates.
I.Amend Section 602.3 Heat Supply,by inserting September I"to May 30'"as
applicable dates.
J.Amend Section 602.4 Occupiable Work Spaces by inserting September I"to May
30'"as applicable dates.
$222A.11 Rental Certificate Requirements,Conditions and Fees.
A.Required Registration:After the effective date hereof,no person shall rent,lease,let,
operate or otherwise allow the occupancy of any dwelling unit or any portion of any
dwelling unit (including sleeping rooms)unless they hold a valid rental inspection
certificate issued by the Development Services Department.
B.Issuance:Following submission of a proper registration application,on forms provided by
the Development Services Department,and review of the residential rental unit for
compliance with the provisions of this chapter,the Development Services Department
shall issue a rental certificate to the owner.
C.Rental Certificate Displayed:The owner of a multiple-family dwelling shall display a
copy of the rental certificate in a common hallway or each building or in the on-site
management office.The owner of a single-family or duplex dwelling must be able to
show a copy of the rental certificate upon request.
D.New Units:New construction projects,which have received a Final Inspection and have
passed and hold a full Certificate of occupancy within the last two years from the
adoption date of this ordinance and has all required owner/agent information on file with
the City of Waukee,shall be considered to be in compliance with rental inspection
certificate and fee requirements for a period of two years from the adoption date.
Expiration:Prior to the expiration date of the rental certificate,the Development Services
Department shall mail a renewal notice to the owner advising of the requirements for
renewal of the rental certificate.Failure of the owner to complete the requirements for
renewal will result in a late payment penalty being applied to the balance owed.If the
renewal is not completed within thirty (30)days following expiration of the rental
certificate,a notice of violation will be issued to the property owner.
Revocation:Any rental certificate may be summarily revoked by the Board of Appeals
upon the review of a notice of violation of any provision of this chapter.If,at the
discretion of the building official,an emergency exists which threatens the immediate
health,safety or general welfare of the occupant(s)or general public,the building official
may immediately issue an order suspending the rental certificate.Upon issuance of the
order,the occupant(s)of the unit(s)shall immediately vacate the premises until the rental
certificate is reinstated.
Transfer;Rental certificates shall not be transferable to succeeding owners.Rental
certificates shall automatically terminate and become null and void,without further action
of the city,upon transfer of property ownership or upon execution of an agreement to
purchase property on contract.
Every seller of a residential rental property shall give notice to the Development Services
Department within seven (7)days after closing or execution of a contract for sale.This
notice shall include the name and address of the buyer.
Every buyer of a residential rental property,including contract buyer,shall give notice to
the Development Services Department within seven (7)days after closing.This notice
shall include the name and address of the buyer and his/her agent.
H.Outstanding Issues:If an owner has outstanding fees,fines or violations on any property
within the City of Waukee,the issuance of a rental certificate may be withheld by the
Development Services Department.
)222A.12 Complaint by Tenant.Unless there are significant health,safety or general
welfare issues,a tenant must first complain to the owner or agent.Complaint forins for that
purpose will be available from the Development Services Department.
An owner or agent shall have seven (7)days to address the complaint.If the complaint is
not remedied to the tenant's satisfaction within seven (7)days,the Development Services
Department will schedule an inspection with the tenant and owner.If violations are
found,an inspection fee shall be charged to the owner.
B.No person shall pursue an action for eviction because the occupant has reported a
violation of this chapter to the Development Services Department.
C.No person shall cause any service,facility,equipment or utility required under this
chapter to be removed,shut off or discontinued in retaliation for a complaint.
I'l222A.13 Collection of Fees,Fines,Penalties and Costs.All fees,fines,penalties and
costs imposed upon an owner in the enforcement of this Chapter shall be due when notice of the
amount of such fees,fines,penalties and costs is mailed to the owner.
A.If notice containing the information required by Iowa Code 364.17 is given and the total
amount of such fees,fines,penalties and costs is not paid within thirty (30)days of when
due,or within ten (10)days of the final action of the building code of appeals board,then:
1.The owner shall be charged a late payment penalty in the amount set forth in
the fee schedule adopted by the city council from time to time;
2.Interest shall thereafler accrue on the unpaid balance at the rate of one and one-
half percent (1.5'/o)per month;and
3.The city may certify the unpaid balance,interest and late payment penalty to the
county auditor as a lien upon the rental property for collection in the same
manner as a property tax,
$222A.14 Appeals.Any person affected by a decision of the building official may request
and shall be granted a hearing on the decision before the Board of Appeals as set forth in Chapter
403,"Board of Appeals",of this code.Such appeal shall be taken within ten (10)days by filing
an application request on the forms provided by the Development Services Department.
Additionally,the application must be accompanied with the appropriate fee as determined in the
fee schedule adopted from time to time by the city council.An appeal stays all proceedings in
furtherance of the action appealed from,unless the building official certifies to the Board of
Appeals after notice of appeal shall have been filed that by reason of facts stated in the certificate
a stay would in the opinion of the building official cause imminent peril to life or property.In
such case,proceedings shall not be stayed other than by a restraining order which may be granted
by the Board of Appeals or by a court of record on application,on due cause shown.
$222A.I 5 Violations.Violations of the provisions of this chapter,or failure to comply with
any of its requirements,shall constitute a municipal infraction as set forth in 103.4 of this code.
Each day that a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.In the event that the city seeks
court intervention for a violation of any provision of this chapter,the city may seek
reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees and additional costs.Nothing herein contained shall
prevent the city from taking such other lawful actions as necessary to prevent or remedy
violations.
SECTION 3.REPEALER.All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the
provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4.SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.If any section,provision or part of this
ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional,such adjudication shall not affect the validity
of the ordinance as a whole or any section,provisions or part thereof not adjudged invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION 5.EFFECTIVE DATE.This ordinance shall be in effect from and after its
final passage,approval and publication as provided by law.
Passed by the Council the 16'"day of July,2018,and approved this 16'"day of July,2018.
'am F.card,Mayor
Attest:
Rebecca D.Schuett,City Clerk