Sterling — Ch. 18 Art. XI Residential Rental Property § 18-302

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Building official/inspector means the City of Sterling building and zoning superintendent or his or her designee.
Certificate of occupancy means a document issued by the building official/inspector attesting that the residential rental unit complies with the applicable building and property maintenance codes of the city and authorizing occupancy of the residential rental unit.
Conditional certificate of occupancy means a document issued by the building official/inspector attesting that the residential rental unit has been inspected and either contains no code violations or contains code violations of a nature which do not preclude the residential rental unit from being occupied while the violations are being corrected. A conditional certificate of occupancy shall expire no more than 60 days from its issuance by the building official/inspector, unless extended by order of the building official/inspector.
Dwelling means a building or any portion thereof used exclusively for human habitation.
Dwelling unit means one or more rooms containing individualized cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities which is designed, occupied or intended for use by one household.
Egress means a continuous path of travel from any point in the building or structure, to the open air outside, at grade level, consisting of: (1)
The way of exit access;
(2) The exit;
(3) The means of discharge from the exit.
Exit means a continuous and unobstructed means of egress to a public way, including intervening aisles, doors, doorways, corridors, exterior exit balconies, ramps, stairways, and exit passageways.
Family means: (1)
One or more persons each related to the other by blood or marriage, including adopted or foster children, plus domestic employees. The term "immediate family," for the purposes of this chapter, means spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, children, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents, and grandchildren; or
(2) Persons participating in a lawfully established program for residential care, plus support staff.
Local agent means a person 18 years of age or older who resides within 50 miles of the city or maintains a physical office location within 50 miles of the city. The local agent shall be authorized by the owner of any residential rental unit not residing or maintaining an office within such limits to receive notices of code violations and/or receive process in any court or administrative enforcement proceeding on behalf of the owner in connection with the enforcement of this article for the City of Sterling.
Owner means any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the official records of the state, county, or municipality as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including, but not limited to, the guardian of the estate of any such person, the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court, and a mortgagee in possession.
Permanent resident means any person who lawfully occupies or has the right to lawfully occupy any rental dwelling unit, or residential rental unit for at least 30 consecutive days.
Premises means a tract of land on which one or more residential rental dwelling units is located.
Residential rental unit means a single residential dwelling unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, which include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, whether such unit is a single family house, mobile home, duplex or other multi-family type of structure that is offered for rent or lease, with or without payment or consideration for such occupancy. If a residential rental unit is part of a multi-family structure, any common areas of such structure shall, for purposes of this article, be considered to be part of the residential rental unit.
Substandard conditions means any building or structure or portion thereof used for residential rental purposes shall be deemed and declared to be substandard when it does not comply with the minimum standards of the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code as amended and revised. "Substandard conditions," for purposes of this definition, shall include, by way of example, but not be limited to, the following: (1)
Inadequate sanitation, including, but not limited to:
a. Lack of an operable flush toilet;
b. Lack of an operable kitchen sink;
c. Lack of running water.
(2) Inadequate heating;
(3) Inadequate light/ventilation;
(4) Inadequate electricity;
(5) Lack of operable electrical service, wiring, or fixtures;
(6) Infestation of insects, vermin, or rodents;
(7) Lack of connection to an approved sewage disposal system;
(8) Inadequate garbage and rubbish storage facilities;
(9) Structural hazards, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Deteriorated foundations;
b. Deteriorated or defective flooring or floor supports;
c. Deteriorated walls, partitions or other vertical supports that split, lean, list or buckle;
d. Deteriorated or dilapidated ceilings, rooms, roof, support structures or other structural members which sag, split, lean or buckle;
e. Deteriorated fireplaces or chimneys which list, bulge, or are in need of tuckpointing.
(10) Inadequate wiring;
(11) Inadequate plumbing;
(12) Inadequate mechanical equipment, e.g., furnaces and vents not maintained in a safe and operable condition;
(13) Faulty weather protection, e.g., defective walls, roofs, windows and doors which admit the elements;
(14) Occupancy by permanent residents that exceeds the maximum occupancy limit for the residential rental unit defined by any applicable code.