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For the purposes of this chapter, the following words or phrases have the meaning prescribed below:

“Accessory dwelling unit” or “ADU” means a housing unit that is accessory to a single-household dwelling and meets the requirements of LMC 18A.70.313 for accessory dwellings.

“Certificate of inspection” means an unsworn statement, declaration, verification, or certificate made in accordance with the requirements of RCW 9A.72.085 by a qualified inspector that states that the landlord has not failed to fulfill any substantial obligation imposed under RCW 59.18.060 that endangers or impairs the health or safety of a tenant, including (1) structural members that are of insufficient size or strength to carry imposed loads with safety, (2) exposure of the occupants to the weather, (3) plumbing and sanitation defects that directly expose the occupants to the risk of illness or injury, (4) not providing facilities adequate to supply heat and water and hot water as reasonably required by the tenant, (5) providing heating or ventilation systems that are not functional or are hazardous, (6) defective, hazardous, or missing electrical wiring or electrical service, (7) defective or hazardous exits that increase the risk of injury to occupants, and (8) conditions that increase the risk of fire.

“Director” means the City Manager or designee assigned with the enforcement of this chapter.

“Nonowner managers,” as used in this chapter, means any person(s) hired or engaged for the purpose of providing management services for any residential housing unit within the City of Lakewood, where the manager(s) has/have no ownership in the residential housing unit being managed.

“Owner” means any person who, alone or with others, has title or interest in any building, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, and including any person who as agent, or executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of an estate has charge, care, or control of any building. This definition includes, without limitation, the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the rental unit or the property of which it is a part, and in addition means any person designated as representative of the owner, lessor, or sublessor including, but not limited to, an agent, a resident manager, or a designated property manager.

“Qualified inspector” means: a United States Housing and Urban Development certified inspector; a Washington State licensed home inspector; an American Society of Home Inspectors certified inspector; a private inspector certified by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, the American Association of Code Enforcement, or other comparable professional association as approved by the local municipality; a municipal code enforcement officer; a Washington licensed structural engineer; or a Washington licensed architect.

“Rental-housing complex,” as used in this chapter, means any complex of five or more residential units on one property or on adjacent property owned by the same person or persons, or business entity, or multiples thereof or combinations thereof, or five or more residential rental properties located within the City of Lakewood not on adjacent properties but owned, in whole or in part, by the same owner(s).

“Rental-housing complex owners,” as used in this chapter, means the individual or individuals, partnership(s), corporation(s) or any combination thereof owning or having an ownership interest in any residential housing unit within the City of Lakewood.

“Rental unit” means a residential housing unit occupied or rented by a tenant or available for rent by a tenant.

“Residential housing unit” means all dwelling units on a contiguous quantity of land managed by the same landlord as a single, rental complex. This definition includes, but is not limited to, any structure or part of a structure in the City of Lakewood that is used or may be used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one person or by two or more persons maintaining a common household, including but not limited to single-family residences and units of multiplexes and apartment buildings.

“Shelter” means a facility with overnight sleeping accommodations, owned, operated, or managed by a nonprofit agency or governmental entity, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless.

“Tenant” means a person occupying or holding possession of a building or premises pursuant to a rental agreement.

“Transitional housing” means residential housing units owned, operated, or managed by a nonprofit agency or governmental entity in which supportive services are provided to individuals or families that were formerly homeless, with the intent to stabilize them and move them to permanent housing within a period of not more than 24 months.

“Unit unavailable for rent” means a residential housing unit that is not offered or available for rent as a rental unit, and that prior to offering or making the unit available as a rental unit, the owner is required to obtain a residential rental business license for the building in which the unit is located and comply with applicable administrative regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. [Ord. 644 § 3, 2016; Ord. 468 § 1, 2008; Ord. 255 § 1, 2001; Ord. 219 § 1, 1999.]