Chapter 5.24
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING RENTAL BUSINESS LICENSE
Sections:
5.24.010 License required.
A. No person may make available for rent, or rent, lease, or let, to the public any residential dwelling unit as defined in subsection B of this section without securing and maintaining a current residential dwelling rental business license as required by subsection C of this section. For purposes of this chapter, the reference “to the public” includes any rental by an owner to a third party where the owner is not a full-time resident of the residential dwelling unit and includes any rental to a third party regardless of familial relationship, whether by blood or marriage. Application and renewal of the residential dwelling rental business license is administered through the Business Licensing Service under applicable requirements set forth in Chapter 5.04, and which do not conflict with any specific requirements of this chapter.
B. Rentals—Dwelling Units. Any person renting or making available for rent to the public any dwelling unit shall secure a license as required by this chapter, registering each dwelling unit and including a certification warranting each such dwelling unit complies with the Uniform Housing Code as adopted by the city and does not present conditions that endanger or impair the health or safety of the tenants. For the purpose of this section “dwelling unit” means any structure or part of a structure which is used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one, two or more persons maintaining a common household, including but not limited to single-family residences and units of multiplexes, apartment buildings and mobile/manufactured homes. The annual residential dwelling rental business license fee shall be payable for each independent business location and the first unit and an additional fee for each additional rental dwelling unit available for rental to the public by the applicant. All revenues received from this business license fee must be utilized exclusively for the cost of issuance of the license provided herein and the administration of this chapter. Issuance of the residential dwelling rental business license is contingent upon submission of the certification of inspection, as required by this chapter, payment of the fee provided herein and compliance with this chapter.
C. Business License Fee for Rental Dwellings. All persons subject to this chapter shall obtain a residential dwelling rental business license as follows:
Each rental dwelling property (includes first unit)—thirty dollars.
Each additional dwelling unit at the same property—three dollars.
D. Late renewals will be assessed a penalty as provided in Section 5.04.160. In addition, if the license fee is not paid within thirty days of January 1st, the sum of thirty dollars shall be assessed as a penalty.
E. The sum of sixty dollars shall be assessed if the license fee is not paid within ninety days after January 1st. An additional sixty dollars penalty shall be assessed for each thirty-day period thereafter that the license is not obtained as required.
(Ord. No. 648, § 1, 12-17-20; Ord. No. 562, § 1, 1-15-15; Ord. No. 493, § 1, 12-17-09)
5.24.020 Inspection required.
A. As a condition for the issuance of a license provided by this chapter, the applicant shall provide a certificate of inspection that all of the applicant’s rental dwelling units comply with the standards of the Uniform Housing Code and do not present conditions that endanger or impair the health or safety of a tenant including:
1. Structural members that are insufficient in size or strength to carry imposed loads with safety;
2. Exposure of the occupants to the weather;
3. Plumbing and sanitation defects that directly expose the occupants to the risk of illness or injury;
4. Lack of water, including hot water;
5. Heating or ventilation systems that are not functional or are hazardous;
6. Defective, hazardous, or missing electrical wiring or electrical service;
7. Defective or inadequate exits that increase the risk of injury to occupants;
8. Violations that increase the risks of fire; or
9. Violations of other applicable codes, rules or regulations.
B. Timing of Inspection. To facilitate the availability of an inspection by each applicant, at the time of application, an inspection renewal period will be established upon which the applicant must submit its initial certificate of inspection and the corresponding renewal date of the certificate of inspection two years thereafter. The certificate renewal periods are divided into calendar quarters over a two-year period and assigned to the applicant at the time of registration. The first calendar quarter commences on the first day of January, terminating on the last day of March; the second calendar quarter commences on the first day of April and terminates on the last day of June; the third calendar quarter commences on the first day of July and terminates on the last day of September; and the fourth calendar quarter commences on the first day of October and terminates on the last day of December. Certificates of inspection must be submitted no later than the last day of the applicant’s assigned calendar quarter.
C. Inspectors. The applicant shall submit a certificate of inspection based upon the physical inspection of the dwelling units conducted not more than ninety days prior to the date of the certificate of inspection and compliance certified by the following:
1. The city of Mattawa contract building official;
2. Inspectors certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for grant-required inspections;
3. Certified private inspectors approved by the city upon evidence of completion of formal training including the passing of an examination administered by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) or other comparable professional association as approved by the planner which approval or denial shall be subject to appeal to the hearing examiner;
4. A Washington licensed structural engineer;
5. A Washington licensed architect.
All inspection certifications shall be submitted on forms provided by the city or approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
D. Other Inspections. Nothing herein shall preclude such additional inspections as may be conducted pursuant to the tenant remedy provided by RCW 59.18.0115 of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, at the request or consent of a tenant, or issued pursuant to a warrant.
(Ord. No. 648, § 1, 12-17-20; Ord. No. 493, § 1, 12-17-09)
5.24.030 Violations.
A. Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter is declared to have created a public nuisance and shall be subject to administrative enforcement pursuant to Chapter 8.28. Each such person is deemed to have committed a separate code violation for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted by such person.
B. Any person who knowingly submits or assists in the submission of a falsified certificate of inspection, or knowingly submits falsified information upon which a certificate of inspection is issued, shall, in addition to the penalties provided in subsection A of this section, be guilty of false swearing pursuant to RCW 9A.72.040 for each separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this subsection shall be committed.
C. In addition to the penalties provided above, any violation of this chapter may result in the revocation of the business licenses provided in this title.
(Ord. No. 648, § 1, 12-17-20; Ord. No. 493, § 1, 12-17-09)