Purpose - Residential Rental Occupancy Permit
The purpose is to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the people of the City in occupied dwellings by recognizing that the offering for rental of dwelling units is a business and by classifying and regulating such business, the effect of which shall promote the following:
- To protect the character and stability of residential areas;
- To correct and prevent housing conditions that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the life, safety, general welfare and health, including the physical, mental, and social well-being of persons occupying dwellings;
- To enforce minimum standards for the maintenance of existing residential buildings and to thus prevent slums and blight;
- To preserve the value of land and buildings throughout the city;
- To protect the public from increased criminal activity which tends to occur in residential areas which are unstable due to dwellings which are blighted or are substandard.
It is not the intention of the City to interfere with contractual relationships between tenant and landlord. The City does not intend to intervene as an advocate for either part, or act as arbiter, nor be receptive to unsubstantiated complaints from tenants or landlords which are not specifically and clearly related to the provisions of this section.
Requirements - Rental Occupancy Permit
It shall be unlawful for any landlord to rent or lease to another or otherwise allow any person to occupy any rental dwelling unit which is subject to this section unless the landlord has first obtained and continues to hold a valid rental occupancy permit.
The provisions of this section shall apply to the rental or leasing of rental dwelling units, and rental dwellings which contain such units, including one and two family rental residential dwelling units, multiple dwelling units, accessory living quarters, and lodging houses.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to hotels and motels, tourist homes, nursing homes, or assisted care dwelling units, residential care facilities as described by KRS 100.982, Hospitals and Sanitariums.
Within 30 days following the effective date, the landlord of a rental dwelling unit shall make written application to the Inspection Department for a Rental Occupancy Permit to carry on the business of renting a residential dwelling unit. Such application shall be made on a form furnished by the Fire Prevention Division for such purpose.
More information can be found in Chapter 42 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances.
