§ 8-27. Multi-family dwelling community specific provisions.

(a)

In addition to the provisions in section 8-26 herein, each owner and manager of a multi-family dwelling community shall comply with this section.

(b)

Emergency telephone number. The owner and manager of a multi-family dwelling community shall provide to each resident a current correct emergency telephone number which shall be answered twenty-four (24) hours each day by an owner, an employee or agent of the owner, a manager, or a telephone answering service for the multi-family dwelling unit in which the resident resides, in order to be able to respond to all resident emergencies which cannot wait until the first business hours.

(c)

Management registration.

(1)

All managers of a multi-family dwelling community shall register as such with the city. Such registration shall include the name of the person or management company, street address, a current correct telephone number, and a current correct emergency telephone number which shall be answered twenty-four (24) hours each day by an owner, an employee or agent of the owner, or a manager and any other information as determined by the building official.

(2)

An owner shall not use a manager that is not registered with the city pursuant to this subsection.

(d)

Disclosure of ownership.

(1)

The landlord shall disclose to each resident and the code enforcement director the name and either a street address or post office box address of the holder of record title in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 92.201 of the Texas Property Code, as amended.

(2)

The owner, agent, or manager of a condominium shall disclose to each tenant and the code enforcement director the name and business address of the owner, lessor, or sub-lessor of the dwelling unit rented by the tenant and provide the names and addresses of those persons responsible for the maintenance of the common area of a condominium by supplying said information to each tenant within seven (7) days after receiving a written request by the tenant or code enforcement director.

(e)

Utilities to master-metered multi-family dwelling community.

(1)

Utility company records. Before providing utility service to a new account at a master-metered multi-family dwelling community, a utility company may obtain, and the applicant for utility service shall provide:

a.

The name and address of the owner or owners of the building;

b.

The name and address of the manager responsible for paying the utility bills; and

c.

The name and address of the first-lien holder, if any.

(2)

The utility company may maintain a record of the information obtained per subsection (1) and may make it available to the city.

(3)

Notice of utility interruption.

a.

A utility company may make a reasonable effort (including, but not limited to, messenger delivery) to provide notice of a pending utility interruption to residents of a master-metered multi-family dwelling community.

b.

Prior to disconnecting service, a utility company providing gas, electricity, water, or sanitary sewer may send to the building official a copy of each termination of service letter or notice sent to the owner or manager of a master-metered multi-family dwelling community.

(f)

Crime prevention standards. The owner and manager of a multi-family dwelling community shall provide the following crime prevention measures:

(1)

Signs for emergencies and code violations. The owner and manager of a multi-family dwelling community shall post and maintain signs on the premises of the community which include the following:

a.

Emergency numbers . The names of designated employees or other authorized persons who shall be assigned to respond to emergency conditions, and a telephone number where said employees can be contacted during any twenty-four-hour period. Emergency conditions shall include fire, natural disaster, flood, collapse hazard, burst pipes, or violent crime.

b.

Notice for reporting code violations. A sign for reporting code violations to the city in a form approved by the code enforcement director.

(2)

Sign requirements. The sign required by this section shall be a minimum of twelve (12) inches by twenty-four (24) inches. Sign facings shall be fabricated out of weather-proof material. The signs shall have a white background, with letters and numbers in a contrasting color. At each multi-family dwelling community there shall be at least one (1) sign posted, and an additional sign for each fifty (50) dwelling units in excess of fifty (50). The signs shall be prominently displayed in exterior, publicly accessible areas of the complex. If the community has an on-site management office, one (1) sign shall be on the exterior of the office.

(3)

Lighting.

a.

Exterior illumination shall be provided at appropriate points adjacent to all building entrances, including individual dwelling units. Lighting shall be sufficient to illuminate areas where hazards may reasonably exist, and shall be operable between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise.

b.

Security lighting must be provided, maintained, and operated so that it adequately illuminates all parking areas, walkways, stairs, steps, doorways, and garbage storage areas of the apartment complex to such a degree that the facial features of a person at least five (5) feet tall are distinguishable from a distance of thirty-five (35) feet.

c.

If control mechanisms for such lighting are not accessible by each tenant, such illumination shall be activated and deactivated by a photo cell or seasonally-adjusted timer switch, not operable by individual tenants of the community.

d.

The owner and manager shall repair all inoperable exterior lighting fixtures within a reasonable period of time after being notified that the fixture is not working. In no instance shall a reasonable period of time be deemed to mean more than seven (7) days.

e.

Security lighting must be in compliance with all applicable city ordinances and state law.

(4)

Vacant buildings. The owner and manager shall maintain all vacant buildings pursuant to the standards otherwise in this chapter.

(5)

Security gate access.

a.

The owner and manager of a multi-family dwelling community which has unstaffed security gates which restrict vehicle access onto the premises shall provide the police chief with master codes to the gates so that police vehicles and personnel and ambulance and ambulance personnel are allowed unrestricted entry onto the premises when responding to emergencies and calls for service and routine patrols.

b.

Prior to changing the master codes, the owner and manager shall notify the police chief of the new codes.

c.

The owner and manager shall equip all security gates with a manual override to be used in the event of a power outage or system failure. The owner and manager shall notify the police chief of the location of the override.

d.

The owner and manager shall provide access through such security gates by fire trucks and fire personnel as required by the International Fire Code as adopted by the city.

(6)

Graffiti abatement. An owner and manager shall remove graffiti from his or her multi-family dwelling community as required in chapter 57 of The Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances of the City of Irving, Texas.

(7)

An owner or manager commits an offense if the owner or manager knowingly violates this section.

(Ord. No. 2008-9000, § 2, 10-2-08; Ord. No. 2008-9011, § 1, 11-6-08; Ord. No. 2018-10083, § 1, 7-19-18 )