The policy establishes standards for communal kitchens located in rental housing. Standards include minimum floor area, minimum food preparation area, requirements of a refrigerator, kitchen sink, stove, and adequate cabinet space. Communal kitchens must be accessible to all occupants without going outside or through another occupant's unit.
This policy relates to communal kitchen standards in rental housing, most of which is multi-unit housing.
The housing code, which includes this policy, is designed to ensure that conditions are of the quality necessary to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants and the general public. § 20-1.
"[T]he purpose of the Ottumwa Housing Code is to ensure that housing facilities and conditions are of the quality necessary to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of not only those persons utilizing the housing, but the general public as well... the purpose of this chapter is to determine the responsibilities of owners, operators, occupants, and the city, necessary to maintain and administer the standards of the housing code." §20-1(b).
The housing code largely adopts the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code, including that code's definitions with one exception (see e.g., § 20-3(b)(7). The definitions are not reprinted in the Ottumwa Housing Code. § 20-2 and § 20-3(b)(7).
The health department is charged with issuing rental housing permits § 20-5(a). Requirements for obtaining a rental permit are listed in § 20-5.
Violatiors are subject to fees or revocation of rental permit. Fee schedule is established by resolution of the Ottumwa City Council. §20-6.
This code is located in Ottumwa, Iowa Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20 Housing Code, Section 20-7 Minimum Standards for all rental housing. History: Ord. No. 3127-2017, § 1(20-5), 10-17-2017.