§ 598.05. Grounds for Denial

(A)

The Director shall issue a new permit, or grant the renewal of an existing permit, except as provided in divisions (B) or (C) of this section.

(B)

The Director shall deny any application for a new permit, or renewal of permit, if any of the following are shown to have occurred at the hotel/motel or short-term rental property:

(1)

The applicant makes a material misrepresentation of fact on the application;

(2)

The applicant or any owner of the hotel/motel or short-term rental has been convicted of violating sections 598.02(A)(1), 598.02(A)(2) or 598.08(B) of this chapter;

(3)

Any owner, applicant, operator, or manager of the hotel/motel or short-term rental is shown to have been convicted of the act of prostitution or soliciting for prostitution, or an act that would constitute a violation of the Ohio Revised Code Chapters 2925 or 3719, on the premises of the hotel/motel or short-term rental in question, or any hotel/motel or short-term rental in which that individual has any interest in, including, but not limited to, ownership, licensure, or management;

(4)

The applicant or owner of the hotel/motel does not have a valid State of Ohio license as defined in Ohio Revised Code Section 3731.03;

(5)

The property on which the hotel/motel is located is not in good standing with the City of Columbus Income Tax Division;

(6)

The short-term rental host is not in good standing with the City of Columbus Income Tax Division.

(C)

The Director may deny any application for a new permit, or renewal of permit, if any of the following are shown to have occurred at the hotel/motel or short-term rental property:

(1)

The hotel/motel or short-term rental has outstanding orders from the Columbus Division of Fire that have not been corrected;

(2)

Pattern of felony drug related activity;

(3)

Pattern of prostitution related activity or evidence of human trafficking;

(4)

Pattern of gang related activity as defined in Ohio Revised Code Section 2923.41;

(5)

Calls for service ratio greater than 1.2 during a consecutive twelve month period where at least one of the twelve months occurs within the calendar year in which an objection to the permit is lodged;

(6)

The hotel/motel or short-term rental has a documented history of repeated offenses of violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code Section 2901.01;

(7)

The owner, applicant, operator, or manager, or short-term rental host has not made a good faith effort to correct violations of sections 598.05 and 598.11 of this chapter, or has obstructed or interfered with correction of the violations;

(8)

Any owner, applicant, operator, or manager of the hotel/motel, or short-term rental host is shown to have engaged in the act of prostitution or soliciting for prostitution, or an act that would constitute a violation of the Ohio Revised Code Chapters 2925 or 3719, on the premises of the hotel/motel or short-term rental in question, or any hotel/motel or short-term rental in which that individual has any interest in, including, but not limited to, ownership, licensure, or management.

(9)

The applicant or any owner of the hotel/motel or short-term rental has hindered or prevented any inspection of the hotel/motel or short-term rental authorized by Chapter 501 of the Columbus City Code;

(10)

The short-term rental has a documented history or repeated conduct that endangers neighborhood safety. This subdivision shall not apply to a hotel/motel.

(D)

Evidence of conduct under divisions (B) and (C) of this section need only be that of de facto violation of law, evidence of conviction is not a prerequisite for denial unless specifically indicated.

(Ord. No. 1921-2015 , § 1, 11-16-2015; Ord. No. 2145-2018 , § 1, 7-30-2018)