Dear Orono Property Owner,
The Town of Orono administers a Rental Registration program in accordance with Article IV of the Town Building and Building Code Ordinance (Chapter 8). Our records indicate that you are the owner of rental property within Orono. This is your reminder that you are required to register all of your rental units with the Town no later than September 1st of each year. Please find the enclosed Rental Registration Form that needs to be completed annually for each dwelling (or rental) unit that you own and rent or lease for residential purposes.
In past years we have allowed folks who have completed a form from previous years to simply complete an abbreviated form if there are no changes. Unfortunately we have been experiencing a very large percentage of abbreviated forms submitted that changes were not reflected. This has resulted in staff spending a considerable amount of time trying to track down information when needed. BEGINNING THIS YEAR, THE ENTIRE APPLICATION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED IN LEGAL COMPLIANCE. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED FOR COMPLETION.
The form can also be found online at http://codeenforcement.orono.org/overview. If you have questions or need help filling out the application, please contact Katlyn Howlett at the Community Development Office at 207-889-6909 or khowlett@orono.org.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS:
- Return your FULLY COMPLETED registration form(s) and fee(s) by September 1, 2016. The fee for registrations received after September 1st date doubles to $50 per dwelling unit.
- The Town will begin formal enforcement action for rental units not registered by October 15, 2017 which subjects property owners to a penalty of $100- $2,500 per day per violation.
- If you no longer own rental property, please contact Katlyn Howlett (See above) to update the Town records. Doing nothing may seem easier for you but it will result in the town assuming you are simply ignoring the requirement and a court summons being issued which can only be addressed by appearing in court. Please save yourself and us a lot grief and let us know when you no longer own a rental property.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ORONO LANDLORDS:
As you heard last year, the Town routinely receives numerous concerns related to rental properties. From parents of students calling to ask about Life Safety Code issues within their child’s apartment, to neighbors calling to voice their concerns about public safety and quality of life issues within their neighborhood due to the rental properties. The Town of Orono is unlike any other community within the State of Maine as almost 25% of the property tax base is identified as residential rental properties. As such, we encounter unique challenges that result in what may seem to some as weird ordinances like a prohibition of parking on a front lawn or limiting the number of days a visitor remains on your property.
During the next year we hope to identify ways in which we can ensure that all tenants are living in safe living quarters. I am looking at different ways to allow for physical inspections of every residential rental property to ensure they are in compliance with the Life Safety Code. I am reaching out to all of you in hopes that you will be willing to work with the Town by providing suggestions, advice and support for our ultimate goal of creating a safe place for our renting tenants to live.
If you do not currently receive agendas and public notices from the Town, please consider signing up for code enforcement notifications at http://www.orono.org/list.aspx. And please feel free to stop by the Town Office anytime and give me your thoughts on these very important issues.
Sincerely,
David L. Milan, Director
Community Development
Notice to Rental Unit Owners
Ordinance Responsibilities for Landlords and Tenants
1. Rental Registration forms MUST be filed with the Community Development Office and fees paid no later than September 1st of each year. [Whenever September 1st falls on a holiday or on a weekend, the due date shall be the first day thereafter when the office is open] After September 1st the registration fee is doubled. After October 15th it is assumed that it is the intention of the owner to not register their rental properties and enforcement action will be taken for any violation. Penalties can include fines of up to $100 to $2,500 a day per violation. If your property is no longer being used as a rental property, would you please notify Katlyn Howlett at 207-889-6909 or khowlett@orono.org.
2. The Orono Land Use Ordinance allows no more than three (3) unrelated persons in any rental unit (unless otherwise allowed by the Ordinance).
3. Notice must be posted in each dwelling unit stating the maximum number of tenants allowed.
4. The Orono Land Use Ordinance prohibits anyone from parking any vehicle on the front yard. The "front yard" is defined in Sec 18 – 135 and in short is that area in front of a residence between the Right-Of-Way and the structure.
5. Every dwelling must have a heating system capable of heating the entire dwelling to an average temperature of 70o Fahrenheit.
6. The owner of each dwelling must provide sanitary facilities for the collection, storage, handling and collection of garbage, trash and/or refuse.
7. All trash cans/receptacles and any spilled litter, garbage, trash and/or refuse must be cleaned up and properly disposed of by the tenant and/or owner by 11:00 am. on the day following trash collection. Landlords should advise tenants of trash collection days.
Remember:
It is ultimately the landlord/owners responsibility to ensure compliance with all Orono ordinances. These include the rental ordinance, the land use ordinance, and the disorderly property ordinance. If you have any questions about these or any of our ordinances please call the Code Enforcement Office at 207-866-5051 or check the ordinances on our web site - www.orono.org.