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Clinton adopts rental dwelling license ordinance, sets licensing fee at $152
Summary
Clinton City Council adopted ordinance 24-06 on Dec. 10 requiring rental dwelling licensing and set a $152 per-entity administrative fee to align with the city's commercial license rate; inspections are allowed for cause but not required. Council discussed equity and administrative benefits for code enforcement.
Clinton City Council on Dec. 10 adopted ordinance 24-06 to require a rental dwelling license and directed staff to include a $152 administrative fee in the city's fee schedule.
The ordinance establishes one license per renting entity rather than a per-unit charge and preserves staff's ability to inspect properties when there is reason to believe a health, safety or welfare issue exists. Staff and council members framed the measure as an administrative tool to ensure accurate owner contact information for utilities and code enforcement and to limit the city's difficulty locating responsible parties when problems arise.
Trevor, speaking for staff, said the administration considered several fee levels after consulting other jurisdictions. Clearfield recently completed a rate study and set a $208 initial fee (with a $76 renewal); West Valley charges in the low hundreds. Clinton staff noted the city already carries a $152 administrative fee for commercial business licensing and that matching that number is defensible because it reflects administrative costs rather than inspection or enforcement costs. Council members asked whether the fee could be scaled per door; staff said state law limits charging per unit without a fuller rate study and that the current ordinance authorizes one license per entity.
Council members also debated practical effects. Supporters said a license would help code enforcement and utility staff quickly reach responsible property managers and could reduce staff time spent searching for out-of-state owners. Skeptics cited equity concerns: a single-owner landlord of many units could effectively pay the same fee as an owner of one rental under the ordinance's current structure.
The council moved the ordinance forward and then passed an accompanying fee-schedule amendment (ordinance 28-24) to add a residential rental dwelling license fee of $152. The motion passed on roll call votes recorded during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will implement the licensing process, collect contact information (email/phone), and return any proposed fee-structure changes to the council if a formal rate study or new administrative approach is recommended.
