Rental registration and inspections in Stockton

§ 8.32.060. Self-certification program. A. Well-maintained residential rental units with no existing violations of State Housing Law or the codes listed in Section 8.32.050 above may qualify to participate in the residential rental inspection self-certification program. Eligibility requires the property owner or his or her designated management entity to conduct a self-inspection of all residential rental units, including exterior conditions and site conditions, and certify that conditions at the property achieve the interior and exterior standards listed on the residential rental inspection program's maintenance standards checklist; complete the self-certification affidavit; pay the first year of the self-certification fee and the required application fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council. The Chief Administrator of Code Enforcement or his or her designee shall cause an inspection of approximately 10 percent of the residential rental units that self-certify to verify compliance, following the inspection, citation and reinspection procedures established by this chapter. 1. Eligibility. Based on the self-certification affidavit submitted exterior and interior inspection were conducted by the property owner or designated management entity. The property owner or designated management entity agrees to immediately respond to known criminal or gang activity and contact the City Code Enforcement Office when and if any resident resists entry for the purpose of interior unit inspections for self-certification. With each change of property ownership or management entities, the subject property's eligibility expires for the City self-certification program. To remain eligible, the property owner is required to complete a current affidavit regarding property conditions, ownership, and management entities within 30 days of any change. For qualifying participants, the property owner or the designated management entity will be allowed to remove the property from the City inspection program for a period of four years, provided that the conditions do not deteriorate during that time to the point where the property would no longer meet eligibility maintenance standards for program participation as outlined in the maintenance standards checklist. B. Renewal Self-Certification. A residential rental unit that successfully participated in the prior self-certification program is eligible to renew for the subsequent inspection cycle by completing the process outlined in subsection A of this section. 1. Ineligibility. If the Chief Administrator of Code Enforcement or designee determines by review of the maintenance standards checklist and/or self-certified affidavit that the exterior and/or interior inspections are not in compliance, or as a result of an investigated complaint, that the property owner has allowed the subject residential rental unit to become out of compliance, the property owner will be cited as ineligible to participate in the self-certification program. The property owner shall be assessed a penalty and the full inspection fee, in amounts established by resolution of the City Council. The property owner will not be able to re-apply for the self-certification program until the subject residential rental unit successfully passes an exterior and interior inspection, or for a period of 12 months. 2. Reinstatement. An owner/management entity that unsuccessfully participated in the prior self-certification program is eligible to immediately reinstate after the owner/management entity completes a City approved residential rental unit class, pays all penalties and fees due, and corrects all outstanding violations. The approved class will be a four hour course, which will review the self-certification program criteria; self-certification program affidavit; and maintenance standards checklist. Upon reinstatement, the owner/management entity will be subject to the ongoing inspection cycle by completing the process outlined in subsection A of this section. The owner/management entity will be allowed to reinstate only three times. If, after the owner/management entity has been reinstated three times and the Chief Administrator of Code Enforcement or designee determines by review of the maintenance standards checklist and/or self-certified affidavit that the exterior and/or interior inspections are not in compliance, or as a result of an investigated complaint, the subject residential rental unit is found out of compliance, the property owner will be cited as ineligible to participate in the self-certification program for four years. C. At all times, the City shall retain the authority to investigate and address any violation of State Housing Law and the Stockton Municipal Code. D. Any residential rental unit that participates in the residential rental inspection self-certification program may be removed from the self-certification program at any time if it fails to meet all of the interior and exterior standards outlined on the maintenance standards checklist. E. Any structure and/or premises that do not comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to an inspection of all residential rental units in the complex along with penalties and fees, in amounts established by resolution of the City Council. (Prior code § 7-111.65)

Newly constructed multifamily residential rental units shall be exempt from this chapter for a period of five years from the date the certificate of occupancy is issued by the Building Division. The exemption period shall begin to run on the date the Building Division issues a certificate of occupancy on multifamily residential rental units. Single-family residential units will not be exempt.

Subsidized residential rental units shall be exempt from this chapter when annually inspected by a government agency or entity.

pay the first year of the self-certification fee and the required application fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.

Every residential rental unit shall be inspected not less than once every four years, except for those residential rental units that are participating in the residential rental inspection self-certification program or those residential rental units that qualify as exempt as defined in Section 8.32.120 of this code.

The Chief Administrator of Code Enforcement or his or her designee shall cause an inspection of approximately 10 percent of the residential rental units that self-certify to verify compliance, following the inspection, citation and reinspection procedures established by this chapter.

If the Code Enforcement Officer discovers upon reinspection that the work, action, or inaction requested was not performed, the cited party shall be charged a reinspection fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.

Should the cited party fail to pay the required reinspection fee, the City will recover it, in addition to accrued interest and penalties, utilizing any remedies provided by law including nuisance abatement or municipal tax lien procedures established by ordinance or State law.

The property owner shall be assessed a penalty and the full inspection fee, in amounts established by resolution of the City Council.

The property owner will not be able to re-apply for the self-certification program until the subject residential rental unit successfully passes an exterior and interior inspection, or for a period of 12 months.

If, after the owner/management entity has been reinstated three times and the Chief Administrator of Code Enforcement or designee determines by review of the maintenance standards checklist and/or self-certified affidavit that the exterior and/or interior inspections are not in compliance, or as a result of an investigated complaint, the subject residential rental unit is found out of compliance, the property owner will be cited as ineligible to participate in the self-certification program for four years.

The property owner shall lose this exemption and be assessed a penalty and the full inspection fee in amounts established by resolution of the City Council if the newly constructed multifamily residential rental units, or the subsidized residential units do not successfully pass an exterior and interior inspection.

Any structure and/or premises that do not comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to an inspection of all residential rental units in the complex along with penalties and fees, in amounts established by resolution of the City Council.