Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Art. XII Rental Housing Inspection Program

A. The director and his or her designees may periodically inspect residential rental property in the city. Entry for inspection shall be as the result of consent from the owner or occupant, or as the result of a warrant, pursuant to RCMC § 16.20.1205. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be the responsibility and liability of the owner or his/her designee to obtain the consent of the occupants to inspect the subject residential rental property or otherwise obtain legal access to the subject property or rental units pursuant to the terms of the applicable lease.

B. If, upon the periodic inspection of a residential rental property, violations of applicable laws or ordinances are determined to exist, the director shall enforce the violation pursuant to this chapter.

C. Tenants of residential rental property may request an inspection of their individual units in order to ensure that the property complies with applicable state law, the California Building Code, the Uniform Housing Code, the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings and the Rancho Cordova Municipal Code.

(Ord. 26-2007 § 11; Ord. 19-2012 § 11; Ord. 10-2020 § 3 (Exh. A))

A. A letter of intent to inspect a residential rental property shall be mailed to the rental owner or his or her designee stating the date and time of inspection. Additionally, a notice will be posted on the property by the city. Such notification shall give a minimum of 14 days' notice and include a description of areas that will be inspected. The property may be inspected at an earlier date than noticed, upon the consent of the rental owner or his or her designee and contingent upon consent of any legal occupant or tenant.

B. Owners shall provide access to all required areas of the rental property for inspection within the time period specified in the notice of inspection. If the rental unit is legally occupied by a tenant or other occupant, the owner shall notify the tenant or occupant and request that the tenant or occupant allow entry into the unit by the city for the inspection. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to notify the individual tenants of the inspection and make every good-faith effort to facilitate access to the property to be inspected.

C. In the event the owner, his or her designee, or tenant or occupant in possession of the property to be inspected refuses access to the property, the inspector shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the premises, including but not limited to securing an inspection warrant pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1822.50 through 1822.57. The inspector shall provide notice that a warrant has been issued to both the owner/operator and the tenant or occupant at least 24 hours before the warrant is executed, unless the judge finds that immediate execution is reasonably necessary under the circumstances shown.

D. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the inspector has reasonable cause to believe that the residential rental dwelling unit is so hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, the inspector shall have the right to immediately enter and inspect the premises and may use any reasonable means required to effect the entry and make an inspection.

E. Should an inspection need to be canceled or rescheduled, the rental owner or his or her designee shall be notified at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled inspection date. It shall be the responsibility of the rental owner to notify any tenants or occupants of a cancellation.

F. Formal Notice and Order. A formal report of the inspection results shall be mailed to the rental owner or his or her designee within 10 days of the completion of an inspection. The formal report shall include the results of the inspection. If violations are present, the director or his or her designee shall also mail and post a formal notice and order, pursuant to RCMC § 16.20.400, indicating the violations, proper remedy for violations, the scheduled reinspection date and time, and any reinspection fees and costs that have been assessed.

G. Report of Inspection. Rental owners shall provide the formal report of the inspection results specified in subsection (F) of this section to tenants or occupants upon the request of tenants or occupants.

H. New Violations. Violations that were not noted on the initial inspection report but are discovered during the reinspection due to subsequent damage or deterioration shall be subject to correction.

(Ord. 26-2007 § 11; Ord. 19-2012 § 12; Ord. 10-2020 § 3 (Exh. A))

A. Newly Constructed Buildings. Newly constructed buildings shall be exempt from this chapter for a period of five years. The exemption period shall begin to run on the date the building department issues a certificate of occupancy.

(Ord. 26-2007 § 11; Ord. 10-2020 § 3 (Exh. A))

A. Property Required to Register. Every residential rental property located within the city shall be registered. Rental owners shall obtain registration forms from the neighborhood services office.

B. Registration Information Required. The following information shall be included in every registration:

1. Name and contact information of at least one property title owner;

2. Name and contact information of property manager, if different from owner;

3. Property address or addresses;

4. Type of dwelling (i.e., single-family, duplex, apartment community);

5. Number of residential rental units at each address listed;

6. Number of buildings at each address listed;

7. Name, address and phone number to contact in case of emergency or for purposes of some necessary action by the city. The name or businesses identified as an emergency contact shall have the authority to act as the owner in cases of emergency or for purposes of allowing the director to inspect the residential rental property and/or units within the property; and

8. A valid, unexpired and unrevoked Rancho Cordova rental registration number for each residential rental property subject to the rental housing registration requirements as required by subsection (A) of this section.

C. Notification of any change to the information required by the registration form, such as a transfer of ownership or change in emergency contact information, shall be required and submitted to the city in writing within 60 calendar days of such change.

D. Use of Registration Information. All information contained on the registration form shall only be used by the city for issues related to the condition and inspection of the rental property. The information shall not be used for public dissemination.

(Ord. 26-2007 § 11; Ord. 10-2020 § 3 (Exh. A))

A. For rental housing properties with severe and/or repeat violations, as determined by the director, the city shall require the residential rental owners and/or their property managers to attend a rental housing management education program.

B. The education program shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The rights and responsibilities of residential rental owners, property managers, agents of owners and tenants;

2. Proper procedures for conducting interior and exterior rental property inspections;

3. Rental property maintenance laws and regulations; and

4. The city's code enforcement process.

C. The rental housing management education program will be administered by the city or another qualified agency as determined by the city. Rental housing owners will be responsible for any fees associated with attending such classes.

D. Failure to attend a required education program will result in a violation of this chapter and be subject to RCMC § 16.20.220.

(Ord. 26-2007 § 11; Ord. 10-2020 § 3 (Exh. A))