Chapter 5.24
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS
Sections:
5.24.030 Compliance with Title 15.
5.24.040 Inspection and enforcement.
5.24.050 Multiple units under common ownership.
5.24.060 Multiple units--Noncompliance.
5.24.070 Compliance with state law.
5.24.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
A. “Owner” means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or any part of legal title to property.
B. “Rental agreement” means any agreement, oral or written, which establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy of a residential rental unit.
C. “Residential rental unit” is a non-owner-occupied structure or any portion thereof which is rented or leased as a home, apartment, residence or sleeping place to one or more persons, including but not limited to sleeping units, single-family residences, units of multiplexes, apartment units, mobile homes, and trailers. A residential rental unit may also be referred to herein as a “unit.”
D. “Tenant” is any person who is entitled to occupy a residential rental unit primarily for living or dwelling purposes under a rental agreement.
E. Additional definitions may be found in Chapter 59.04 RCW and RCW 59.18.030 and 59.20.030, and are adopted by reference. (Ord. 2022-5 §5, 2022; Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.020 License application.
In addition to the information to be provided on the application for a business license as required by Chapter 5.02, each application for a residential rental unit license shall state the number of units owned and the number of bedrooms per unit. (Ord. 2022-5 §5, 2022; Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.030 Compliance with Title 15.
All residential rental units and their owners must comply with each and every provision of Title 15. (Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.040 Inspection and enforcement.
A. The code enforcement officer may inspect a residential rental unit to determine the health and safety conditions of the unit at any time. The code enforcement officer, or his designee, is authorized to enter and examine, upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior written notice to the owner and occupant, all residential rental units. The tenant shall give the building official access to the unit for the purpose of such inspection and examination.
B. A tenant may at any time request an inspection and examination of a unit to ascertain compliance with the Wapato Municipal Code. Upon receipt of such request, the code enforcement officer, or his designee, shall give the owner at least twenty-four hours’ notice of the date and time of inspection. The owner shall have the right to be present during the inspection.
C. Upon finding cause to believe that the unit is not in compliance with the requirements of the Wapato Municipal Code, the code enforcement officer shall notify the owner of the noncompliance and the specific findings relied upon. The code enforcement officer, after taking into account the health and safety conditions of the unit, shall give the owner a reasonable time within which to comply. For purposes of this section, a reasonable time within which the owner shall comply, except for circumstances beyond the owner’s control, shall be as follows:
1. Not more than twenty-four hours, where the defective condition deprives the tenant of hot or cold water, heat or electricity, or is imminently hazardous to life;
2. Not more than seventy-two hours, where the defective condition deprives the tenant of a major gas, electrical or plumbing fixture supplied by the landlord; and
3. Not more than ten days in all other cases;
4. In each instance the burden shall be on the owner to see that remedial work is completed promptly. If completion is delayed due to circumstances beyond the owner’s control, including the unavailability of financing, the owner shall remedy the defective condition as soon as possible. (Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.050 Multiple units under common ownership.
A unit with more than one owner only requires one license. A multiple-unit dwelling, such as a duplex, triplex, or apartment building, under common ownership only requires one license. (Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.060 Multiple units--Noncompliance.
Where one of the multiple units under common ownership is found to be in noncompliance with this title, the revocation provisions set forth in Chapter 5.02 shall only affect that unit. (Ord. 1163(part), 2007)
5.24.070 Compliance with state law.
All residential rental unit owners must comply with all federal, state and local laws, including, but not limited to, RCW Title 59. (Ord. 1163(part), 2007)