City of Lawrence
Residential Rental Licensing
Administrative Compliance Procedures
Subject Rental Licensing Administrative Procedures |
Applies to: Planning and Development Services |
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Effective Date ?????? |
Revised Date
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Approved By City Manager
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Total Pages: 3
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Policy Number AP-????? |
1.0 Purpose and Scope
To establish administrative enforcement procedures regarding residential rental property standards found in Chapter 6, Article 13 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2013 Edition and amendments thereto.
2.0 Licensing Schedule in First Year
3.0 Inspection Schedule
4.0 Inspection Procedures
MINOR VIOLATIONS:
· BBQ grill on deck
· Upholstered furniture on a deck or unenclosed porch
· Bathroom ventilation fan is inoperable
· Clogged drains
· Cracked window
· Dirty furnace and/or filter
· Doors (interior) that do not fit in jamb, or are damaged
· Electrical panel has open port or missing cover
· Extension cords used for permanent power source
· Exterior door that does not provide weather tight fit
· Fungus that is most likely mold that is located on walls, ceilings, or floors (small area)
· GFCI receptacles need replaced or installed in wet areas, bathrooms and/or kitchens
· Grass or weeds in violation of the city’s weed ordinance
· Handrail for stairs (interior and exterior) needs to be installed or repaired
· Inadequate exterior storm drainage
· Plumbing fixture leaks
· Deadbolt lock(s) need to be installed on exterior doors that otherwise have a non-deadbolt lock
· Receptacles that are improperly wired
· Receptacles and/or light switches with missing or broken covers
· Temperature and pressure relief valve drain pipe on water heater missing or inadequate
· Clothes washer receptacle not grounded or not GFCI protected
· Smoke detector(s) inoperable
· Vehicle that is not properly tagged or inoperable
· Windows that are not fixed, but do not open
· Missing or damaged window screens when required by the code
· Wood rot of exterior wood on siding, trim, window sills or other structural exterior elements (small or single area)
· Yard has trash, debris or exterior storage
MAJOR VIOLATIONS:
· Occupancy violation
· Land use violation of the Land Development Code (Chapter 20 of City Code)
· Backed up sanitary sewer line
· Ceiling height requirement not met in habitable rooms as defined by code
· Combustion “makeup” air requirement not met for gas furnace and/or water heater
· Missing or inoperable lock on exterior doors
· Dryer not vented to exterior or improperly vented
· Egress requirement not met for bedrooms
· Electrical wiring that is exposed, frayed or faulty as defined by code
· Fire escape from 3rd story or higher not in place when required by code
· Fungus that is most likely mold that is located on walls, ceilings, or floors (large or multiple areas)
· Furnace or water heater flue that is loose or disconnected
· Gas fired furnace and/or water heater not properly vented
· Heating facilities not provided in a habitable space or current heating facilities are inoperable, operating in an unsafe condition, or incapable of maintaining 68 degrees in habitable rooms
· Bedroom and living room size requirements not met
· Smoke detectors not present
· Leaking roof
· Structural deficiencies that affect the structural integrity of ceiling, walls, flooring, etc.
· Water heating facilities inoperable or inadequate
· Window broken or missing
· Windows within 6 ft. of grade with missing or inoperable locks
· Wood rot of exterior wood on siding, trim, window sills or other structural exterior elements (large or multiple areas)
POTENTIAL TENANT BASED VIOLATIONS:
· Occupancy violation
· Upholstered furniture on a deck or unenclosed porch
· Backed up sanitary sewer line
· Smoke detectors inoperable due to missing batteries
· BBQ grill on deck
· Broken, cracked or missing window
· Ceiling/wall hole(s)
· Extension cords used for permanent power source
· Grass or weeds in violation of the city’s weed ordinance
· Vehicle that is not properly tagged or that is inoperable
· Missing or damaged window screens when required by the code
· Yard has trash, debris or exterior storage
5.0 New Construction and Major Reconstruction
A. Section 6-1310 of City Code exempts new and newly renovated Residential Rental Property from inspection for a period not to exceed six (6) years, though the properties must be licensed upon completion. The following defines the terms “New Construction” and “Major Reconstruction” as it applies to this code section.
B. New Construction shall mean any building or structure built entirely new including foundation, walls, and all other components of a building or structure.
C. Major Reconstruction shall mean a renovation in which four or more Primary Building Systems of a building or structure undergo at least a 50% replacement within a 12-month period. Primary Building System is defined as: (1) HVAC; (2) electrical; (3) interior walls and/or exterior structural walls and windows; (4) roofs and ceilings; (5) plumbing; and/or (6) foundation and foundation walls.
6.0 Exemptions
A. In addition to the exemptions noted in Section 6-1325 of the City Code, any and all housing associated with a use categorized as a Religious Assembly, as those uses are defined in Chapter 20 of the City Code, that is/are located on the property of the Religious Assembly use and used for said purposes is/are also exempt from the provisions of Article 13. Rental Dwelling Units that are owned by a religious institution but located off the property of the Religious Assembly use and/or not used for said purposes are not exempt from Article 13 of the City Code.