Colona CHAPTER 2 RENTAL HOUSING1 § 9-2-7
OCCUPANT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Operative Text
Every occupant of a multi-use dwelling, multiple-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, single-family dwelling, hotel or motel and rooming house shall be responsible for the following as applied to the portion of the living unit that they occupy or have access to: A. Reasonable Care; Proper Use: To exercise reasonable care and make proper use of the living unit and its facilities. B. Clean And Sanitary: To keep the occupied area and all plumbing equipment and cooking facilities and any other equipment or facilities that are provided operating in a clean and sanitary fashion. C. Rubbish And Garbage: To dispose of rubbish and garbage or to store such waste in the proper containers as provided by the owners in a neat and sanitary manner. D. Compliance Required: To operate and maintain the living unit in complete compliance with all codes of the City. (1997 Code)
Colona CHAPTER 2 RENTAL HOUSING § 9-2-7 establishes a set of baseline responsibilities that occupants of virtually all residential dwelling types — from single-family homes to hotels and rooming houses — must meet within the portions of a unit they occupy or access. These responsibilities include exercising reasonable care in using the unit and its facilities, keeping the space and its equipment clean and sanitary, properly disposing of or storing rubbish and garbage, and maintaining the unit in compliance with all applicable City codes. The rule applies regardless of the type of residential arrangement and covers shared as well as exclusively occupied spaces.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Colona § 9-2-7, a compliant property operator generally documents the condition of units at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline for what constitutes reasonable care and proper use by occupants. Operators typically provide appropriate waste containers and communicate to residents the proper procedures for rubbish and garbage disposal as required by this provision. Maintaining records of any code-compliance issues and how they were addressed can help demonstrate that both parties are meeting their respective obligations under the City's rental housing standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Colona § 9-2-7 outlines the responsibilities that fall on occupants themselves, meaning tenants can be held accountable for conditions within the areas they occupy or have access to, such as cleanliness, sanitary maintenance of plumbing and cooking equipment, and proper waste disposal. Understanding these obligations can be important when disputes arise over security deposits, lease violations, or habitability claims, since a tenant's own conduct is part of the regulatory framework. Tenants who have questions about how these responsibilities interact with a landlord's duties may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the broader provisions of Colona's rental housing chapter.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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