Definitions

For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings as indicated. No attempt is made to define any words which are used in accordance with their established dictionary meaning, except when necessary to avoid misunderstanding. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, words in the singular number include words in the plural number, and the use of any gender shall be applicable to all genders whenever the sense requires. The words "shall," "will" and "must" are mandatory and the word "may" is permissive.

Lawful source of income shall mean the income from: 1) a lawful profession, occupation or job; 2) any government or private assistance, grant, loan or housing assistance program or subsidy, including but not limited to Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers, Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income; 3) a gift, an inheritance, a pension or other retirement benefits, an annuity, trust income, investment income, alimony, child support, or veteran's benefits; or 4) the sale of property or an interest in property. A person renting more than one rental unit may require reasonable verification of the lawful source of income from a tenant so long as such verification is required from all tenants leasing or renting rental units from that same person.

Notice of rights shall mean a printed, paper copy, available in both English and Spanish, in font 12-pt or larger and on paper of 8½ by 11 inches or larger, of a notice of rights and services available to tenants in the city, in a form approved by the city by resolution. For purposes of this article, if a tenant has consented to receiving and signing documents via electronic means, then the notice of rights may be provided to the tenant in electronic form rather than as a printed, paper copy.

Person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other organization or group of persons however organized, including but not limited to any landlord, owner, lessee, lessor, sublessee, sublessor, assignee, assignor, manager, real estate broker, salesperson, condominium association, homeowners' association, cooperative association, or any representative of any of the foregoing.

Rental agreement shall mean an agreement, either written or oral, by which a tenant is entitled to possess a rental unit in exchange for consideration, or is a "rental agreement", as defined in F.S. § 83.43, as it may be amended.

Rental unit shall mean a residential housing unit that is or may be occupied by a tenant who does not own the property in exchange for consideration and by virtue of an agreement with the owner of such residential property, or which is a "dwelling unit", as defined in F.S. § 83.43, as it may be amended.

Tenant shall mean a natural person or persons who shall occupy, attempt to occupy, or inquire about occupying a rental unit in exchange for consideration and by virtue of a written or oral agreement with the owner of such rental unit, or are a "tenant" as defined in F.S. § 83.43, as it may be amended.

(Ord. No. 2022-51, § 2, 3-17-2022)