Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Art. IA Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Building"

means a structure or part thereof.

"Building code"

means the International Building Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 16.04 RCMC.

"City"

means the city of Rancho Cordova.

"City manager"

means the city manager of the city of Rancho Cordova, or his or her designated representatives.

"Clerk"

means the city clerk of the city of Rancho Cordova, or his or her designated representative.

"Complaint"

means notification by any person, lodged with the code enforcement division of the neighborhood services division, of a violation or a suspected violation of the housing code or this chapter.

"Council"

means the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova.

"Demolish"

means to destroy a building and to remove all debris and waste materials from the lot on which the building stood.

"Department"

means the city's neighborhood services division.

"Director"

means the director of the city's neighborhood services division.

"Displaced"

means if a tenant is ordered to move out of a rented dwelling unit or structure by an order to vacate issued by the city.

"Dwelling"

means any building or structure, or part thereof, used and occupied for human habitation, or intended to be so used, and includes any garages or other accessory buildings belonging thereto, including those which are rented or leased for any term or duration, type or tenure.

"Dwelling unit"

means any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single unit with the facilities which are used, or intended to be used, for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating.

"Electrical code"

means the National Electrical Code as adopted and as modified by the city of Rancho Cordova electrical code set forth in Chapter 16.28 RCMC.

"Enforcement"

means diligent effort to secure compliance or abatement, including review of plans and permit applications, response to complaints, citation of violations, and other legal process. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, "enforcement" may, but need not, include inspections of existing buildings on which no complaint or permit application has been filed, in an effort to secure compliance as to such existing buildings.

"Fire code"

means the International Fire Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 17.04 RCMC.

"Fiscal year"

means the year beginning July 1st and ending June 30th.

"Hearing officer"

means an active member of the bar of the state of California, or any otherwise qualified individual or board, appointed by the city manager to hear matters as provided for and described in this chapter. The hearing officer shall also serve as the housing appeals board as that term is used in the state housing law.

"Housing code"

means this chapter and includes the building code, the electrical code, the mechanical code, the plumbing code and the state housing law.

"Inspection"

means the act of examining areas within the exterior and interior of a residential rental unit for purposes of identifying compliance with state and local building and housing codes and regulations.

"Landlord" or "rental owner"

means an owner, lessor, or sublessor (including any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity) who receives, or is entitled to receive, rent for the use of any dwelling, or the agent, representative, or successor of any of the foregoing.

"Mechanical code"

means the Uniform Mechanical Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 16.32 RCMC.

"Occupant"

means any person over one year of age living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in, or having actual possession of, a dwelling unit.

"Order to vacate"

is a written notice served by an authorized city official on the owner and posted on the affected property declaring that, due to failure to repair or maintain, the dwelling shall be vacated.

"Owner"

means the owner of fee title to a dwelling unit.

"Parties in interest"

means all persons, businesses, partnerships, and corporations who have a mortgage or other interest of public record in a dwelling or dwelling unit, or who are in possession thereof.

"Plumbing code"

means the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 16.24 RCMC.

"Problem properties revolving fund"

means the fund established by this chapter, of that name, which shall be maintained by the city of Rancho Cordova finance director either as an account or a fund, and may, for the purpose of accounting records, make any audits thereof and any reports or statements with respect thereto. All such records with respect to any such fund shall at all times be maintained in accordance with sound accounting practice.

"Program"

means the housing code enforcement program created under this chapter.

"Proof of compliance"

means documentation, on such form and in such manner as the director may provide, that the deficiencies noted in the order or citation issued by the city have been corrected.

"Public record"

means deeds, mortgages and other instruments of record relating to land titles and recorded by the Sacramento County recorder.

"REAP"

means the rent escrow account program provided by this chapter.

"REAP account"

means the account established by this chapter, of that name, which shall be established and maintained by the finance director of the city either as an account or a fund, and may, for the purpose of accounting records, make any audits thereof and any reports or statements with respect thereto. All such records with respect to any such fund shall at all times be maintained in accordance with sound accounting practices.

"Rental dwelling unit"

means a dwelling unit rented for any tenure, type or price.

"Rental housing code compliance fee"

means the fee assessed under this chapter for each rental dwelling unit.

"Responsible fire chief"

means the chief of the fire protection district, special district, or any other municipal or public corporation or district which is authorized by law to provide fire protection and prevention services at issue.

"State housing law"

means Division 13, Part 1.5 (commencing at Section 17913) of the Health and Safety Code, and Article 1 (commencing at Section 1), Chapter 1, Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

"Substandard dwelling"

has the same meaning as "substandard building" as set forth in Section 17920.3 of the Health and Safety Code, or any successor statute.

"Tenant"

means the individual or individuals occupying a rental dwelling unit.

"Untenantable rental dwelling unit" or "uninhabitable rental dwelling unit"

means a rental dwelling unit deemed untenantable for the purposes of this chapter, if it, or the common area of the dwelling, structure, or premises in which it is located, is the subject of a housing code citation or order pursuant to this chapter and substantially lacks any of the affirmative standard characteristics set forth in Section 1941.1 of the Civil Code.

"Vacation date" or "vacate date"

means the date by which a tenant is required to vacate a rental dwelling unit, pursuant to an order by an authorized city official.

(Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 26-2007 § 4; Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(J)))