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A. Beginning on August 1, 2015, no person shall make available for rent, or rent, lease, or let, to the public any residential housing unit without registering and maintaining registration of the rental property at which the unit is located.

B. The fee for registration shall be set by council by ordinance. For the first two years following the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the director is authorized to waive or suspend the imposition of all or a portion of a late fee in a specific circumstance based on excusable neglect. No registration fee shall be required for the following rental properties:

1. Owner-occupied buildings containing two units or less;

2. Rental units that a government unit, agency or authority owns, operates or manages, or that are specifically exempted from such a fee by state or federal law or administrative regulation. This fee exemption does not apply once the governmental ownership, operation or management is discontinued;

3. Rental units:

a. Supported by funding or subsidies from the federal, state or a local government; and

b. That are inspected at least every three years as a requirement of the funding or subsidy; and

4. Accessory dwelling units when an owner resides in either the single-family residence or the ADU and the ADU is attached to the single-family residence.

C. A residential rental registration expires on December 31st of the calendar year following registration or renewal.

D. The residential rental registration is transferable to any person who has acquired ownership of a registered rental property for the unexpired portion of the one-year term for which it was issued.

E. Application. Application for a residential rental registration shall be made to the city on a form and through a process established by the director. The application shall include the applicable registration fee, including late fees if applicable, a declaration of compliance as described in subsection (J) of this section and such other information as required by the director in order to carry out the intent of this chapter.

F. Renewal. A residential rental registration may be renewed by paying the registration fee for the ensuing year on or before the date of the expiration of the current registration, submitting a renewal application on a form and through a process established by the director updating the information contained in the original application, and providing a declaration of compliance as described in subsection (J) of this section. Any person who fails to submit the required documentation and pay the renewal registration fee (unless exempt) on or prior to the expiration date of the registration shall be subject to late fee penalties as determined by city council in a fee ordinance.

G. Display of Registration. A copy of the registration shall be posted on the inside of each residential housing unit in a visible location; provided, that the director may by rule establish one or more alternative or additional methods for conveying the information to tenants of residential housing units.

H. Registration Information. The department will maintain information regarding rental properties that have a valid registration and will make such information available to the public.

I. Information to Be Provided to Tenant and Others. The landlord or his or her authorized representative must provide to each new tenant, at the time the lease or rental agreement is signed or the tenancy otherwise commences, written information regarding tenant rights and resources. The director is authorized to publish the written information to be provided to the tenant under this subsection and shall make such information available to landlords for this purpose. The director will also provide and advertise a website for owners, property managers and tenants regarding rental resources, laws and rights and responsibilities. The director is further authorized to create outreach and instructional classes for owners, property managers and tenants regarding requirements of this program.

J. Declaration of Compliance. As a condition to the issuance and/or renewal of a residential rental registration, an applicant shall provide a valid declaration of compliance addressing each rental unit in the rental property prior to the issuance of a registration. A declaration of compliance submitted under this chapter must state that each unit complies with the requirements and standards listed in BMC 6.15.050(B)(1) through (13) and/or authorized under BMC 6.15.050(C) using a checklist provided by the city, state that there are no conditions presented in the units that endanger or impair the health or safety of a tenant, and certify that all tenants that commenced their tenancy during the previous 12 months were provided the written information required in subsection (I) of this section at the time the lease or rental agreement was signed or the tenancy otherwise commenced. [Ord. 2015-03-005 § 1].