La Crosse Voting to Implement Rental Housing Registration
Background
The legislation is sponsored by Council member Chris Kahlow. At the Judiciary & Administration Committee meeting, Kahlow stated the action plan from the 2023 Economic Development Commission includes reinstating a rental registration and inspection program under the section called “Barriers to affordable housing.”
The City would charge $10 per unit.
Kahlow also stated an unofficial poll of the Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (NRC) members showed they are in favor.
When asked by Council member Scott Neumeister if the renters or Apartment Association were consulted, Council member Kahlow stated there is a representative on the committee and the item has been on the agenda for several months.
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The Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO.: _________
AN ORDINANCE to create Section 103-8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Crosse pertaining to residential rental dwelling unit registration.
THE COMMON COUNCIL of the City of La Crosse do ordain as follows:
SECTION I: Section 103-8 is hereby created to read as follows:
103-8 Residential Rental Dwelling Unit Registration.
(a) All properties containing at least one residential rental dwelling unit must be registered with the City of La Crosse by submitting a completed registration form, made available by the La Crosse Fire Department’s Division of Community Risk Management. The registration form must contain the following:
(1) Name of the owner of each residential rental dwelling unit.
(2) Name, address, and telephone number of authorized contact person for each residential rental dwelling unit.
(b) Changes to the required registration information such as ownership or changes to the authorized contact person for each rental property must be submitted to the City within 30 days of change.
(c) Residential rental dwelling unit owners must submit a registration fee per property established by resolution simultaneous to filing registration.
(d) Residential rental dwelling unit means any independently rented living space whose term of lease is 30 days or greater. It does not include facilities that are inspected, owned, licensed or certified by the State of Wisconsin including rest homes, convalescent homes, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living centers, community based residential facilities, university-owned student dormitories, or adult homes, and properties owned or operated by the City of La Crosse Housing Authority.
SECTION II: Should any portion of this ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this division shall not be affected.
SECTION III: This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication.
