La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 10.93 Hotel, Motel and Lodging House Regulations

This chapter shall be known as the hotel, motel and lodging house regulation ordinance of the city of La Mesa.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)

Except where the context otherwise requires, the definitions given in this section govern the construction of this chapter:

(a) "Hotel" includes motel and lodging house and means any structure, or any portion of any structure, which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes and is held out as such to the public. "Hotel" does not mean any hospital, convalescent home or sanitarium.

(b) "Occupant" means any person using or possessing any room or portion thereof in any hotel for dwelling, lodging, sleeping or any other purpose, or possessing the right to the same.

(c) "Operator" means the person who is proprietor of a hotel or otherwise in charge of its day to day operations, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs his or her functions through a managing agent of any type or character on the premises of such hotel, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this chapter and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his or her principal. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter by either the principal or the managing agent, however, shall be considered to be compliance by both.

(d) "Person" means any individual, firm partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate or any other group or combination acting as a unit.

(e) "Room" means any area within a hotel intended for use as or otherwise used for sleeping or lodging quarters. "Room" does not mean any areas not intended for use as sleeping or lodging quarters such as meeting or conference rooms.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)

Every operator of any hotel in the city shall at all times keep and maintain therein a register, in which shall be inscribed with ink the name and home street address of each and every occupant, verified by a valid picture identification. Such register shall be signed by the occupant and such operator shall thereupon write opposite such name and address so registered and number of each room assigned thereto together with the time of such inscription. Until all of the aforementioned entries have been made in such register, no occupant shall be permitted to occupy any room in any hotel in the city. Erasures or alterations on the register shall be prohibited excepting correction of an error and no person shall erase or obliterate any name or address or permit the same. Such register shall be kept open for inspection by city officials or any peace officer at all times. Registration records shall be maintained and kept on file not less than thirty days from inscription. When the occupant quits or surrenders any room in any hotel the operator of the hotel shall enter the time thereof in the register opposite the name of such occupant.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)

No operator shall rent or let any room in any hotel more than once within an eight hour period.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)

No person shall write or cause to be written, nor shall any operator or person in charge of any hotel knowingly permit to be written in any register of any hotel name other than the true name of the person so registering.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)

Any violation of any provision contained in this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a one-thousand dollar fine and/or twelve months in the county jail.

(Ord. 97-2678 § 1 (part); May 27, 1997)