Sec. 14-83. - Registration, inspection, and license required.

(a)

Every short-term rental unit shall obtain a compliance certificate issued by the building official, shall be registered by the record property owner thereof with the registrar, and shall apply for and be issued a license from the licensing authority before any use of the short-term rental unit occurs.

(b)

Prior to registration and licensing of a short-term rental unit, the short-term rental unit shall be inspected for a fee by the building official or his/her designee and the Jamestown Fire Marshal. Thereafter, the dwelling unit shall be inspected by the building official each two years thereafter, and by the fire marshal each two years thereafter, to be completed no later than the application period filing of the requisite year. The purpose of the inspection is to determine the occupancy limit of the unit pursuant to section 14-87 of this chapter and compliance with the relevant state building codes, fire codes and town ordinances, including, but not limited to smoke and C.O. detectors are installed and compliance with the state fire code for dwelling units and short-term rental units and to determine the number of off-street and on-street parking spaces available on-site. The building official or his/her designee shall issue a short-term rental compliance certificate stating that the unit has passed the required inspections and shall state the maximum occupancy for the short-term rental and dwelling unit. The building official and/or fire marshal may conduct an inspection of any short-term rental unit upon complaint or for any other proper reason pursuant to the general laws, applicable regulations and/or town ordinances. Failure of the record owner of the short-term rental unit to allow inspections shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

(c)

Any deficiencies found by the building official or fire marshal must be satisfactorily addressed by the record owner prior to issuance of a compliance certificate or the use or re-use of the short-term rental unit; engaging or continuing the short-term rental while deficiencies are outstanding shall be a violation of this chapter.

(d)

A short-term rental unit compliance certificate shall expire on December 31 of the second year after issuance of the compliance certificate and must be renewed by the holder, unless revoked, rescinded and/or returned. The first two-year inspection period will be for the license year beginning 2024 and all inspections thereafter shall follow that inspection period. Any mid-term inspection-license due to transfer of property per section 14-85 shall hereafter follow the compliance schedule as stated in this article.

(Ord. of 8-30-2022, § 1(Exh. A); Ord. of 8-7-2023)