Rental Inspection Program

In Mesquite, all rental properties MUST be registered with the City of Mesquite and a Single-Family Rental Property License application must be submitted through our CSS website. Here is some helpful information that will help you get started with applying for a Single-Family Rental Property License.

Overview

When rental applications are submitted, the applicant has 90 days to complete the entire Rental Process. Once the property passes inspection, the Rental Property License is issued. The following steps must be completed to obtain a Rental Property License:

1. application submission
2. application review
3. payment
4. requesting inspection
5. passing inspection
6. tenant obtaining a water account in their name
   

Step 1: Application Submission

To submit a Single-Family rental property application, click here: Energov/CSS Website. Fill out the required fields of the application. When you get to the Contacts section of the application, you will need to add the Property Owner and the Property Manager as contacts.

• PROPERTY MANAGERS: They are also required to be a local contact – MUST be within 40 miles of Mesquite. It will be required for the Property Manager to have a CSS account as they are the ones requesting inspections most of the time. To add the Property Manager on the application, please make sure to SEARCH for the email address of their CSS account.
• PROPERTY OWNER: Property Owners are not required to have a CSS account UNLESS they will be doing the requesting of inspections online. If the property owner will be requesting inspections online, they must have a CSS account. Please search for your contact information on the application, do not manually enter. If the property owner will NOT be requesting inspections online, manually enter the contact information.
• IF YOU ARE BOTH THE PROPERTY OWNER & MANAGER: You MUST have a CSS account. SEARCH for your email address. Do not manually enter information. Select yourself as the Property Owner and Property Manager.

Step 2: Application Review

Application review can take up to 48 business hours. When the application is reviewed and finalized, an invoice will be sent via email and can also be accessed via through your CSS portal.

During the application review, we check for the following:

• Outstanding property taxes
• Outstanding liens
• Property Owner – phone number, address, email address
• Property Manager – must be located within 40 miles of Mesquite, must have CSS account, phone number, address, email address
• Valid Driver’s License/Government ID – CANNOT contain rental property address

Step 3: Payment

When the application has been approved, the City of Mesquite will generate an invoice and will be sent via email. You can also locate the invoice by logging in your CSS account. Once payment has been made, we must process the payment first. We will then send you an email with instructions on how to request the inspection online.

• $150 – Application fee. This is for processing of the application and includes two (2) inspections.
• $500 – Pre-Occupancy fee. This only applies if the property is occupied PRIOR to a passing inspection.
• $60 – Re-inspection fee. This applies to any and all requested inspections after the second failed inspection and 45-Day Re-inspections.

Step 4: Request Inspection

Prior to requesting inspection, ALL UTILITIES (water, gas, electric) MUST BE TURNED ON. Ensure all utilities have been turned on prior to the inspection day.

IF THE PROPERTY IS VACANT: Provide entry such as lockbox code, key location, etc. It is not necessary to have someone present, as long as the inspector has entry.

IF THE PROPERTY IS OCCUPIED: The City will not enter an occupied property with a key, lockbox code, etc. Please coordinate with the tenant to be available; someone over the age of 18 must be present at the time of inspection.

Same-day inspections are not available.

Inspections cannot be requested for weekends or holidays.

Inspectors will not call or text before inspection. An automated email will be sent to the applicant(s), informing them the inspector is EN ROUTE.

Step 5: Inspection Results

If the inspection FAILED, a red tag will be left inside the property. The inspection results/worksheet will be sent via email or can also be accessed through your portal. Once the items have been corrected/repaired, you will need to schedule a re-inspection online.

If the inspection PASSED, a green tag will be left inside the property. This green tag allows the tenant to obtain water services in their name.  A copy of the Rental Property license will be issued and added to your CSS account. The tenants will only have 90 days to transfer water services under their name. After the 90 days, the green tag will expire.

If the inspection has a PARTIAL PASS, a green tag will be left inside the property. This green tag allows the tenant to obtain water services in their name. The tenants will only have 90 days to transfer water services under their name. However, the Rental Property license will NOT be issued, until the remaining items on the failed checklist are corrected/repaired. You must request the re-inspection. The property must have a FULL PASS by the inspector in order to obtain the Rental Property license. Once passed, a copy of the Rental Property license will be issued and added to your CSS account.

Expiration

Rental Property Licenses (RPLs) will expire on the whichever comes first:

• A change in tenancy, or
• Three years from the date of issuance (only if it is the same tenant).
• Once RPL has expired, a new application and inspection are required.

Passed Inspection

Once the property passes inspection, property owners have 90 days to place a tenant and transfer water service into the tenant’s name. After the 90 days, the green tag will expire.

Long-Term/3-Year Renewals

If a property owner has obtained their Rental Property License and has the same tenant, every three (3) years, the license must be renewed and obtained. Please see the modified long-term checklist below.

Tips to Remember:

• Prior to inspection, ALL UTILITIES (water, gas, electric) MUST BE TURNED ON.
• All A/C units (in summer) and all heating units (in winter) must be turned on prior to rental inspections.
• All appliances (HVAC, water heaters and other systems) in the property must work.
• Pre-Occupancy penalty fee of $500 will apply to any property occupied prior to obtaining a Rental Property License.
• City Ordinance requires all rental properties to be current on taxes and have no outstanding liens.
• City Ordinance requires all properties have a local agent listed as a contact on their application within 40 miles of Mesquite
• When a property passes inspection, a green tag will be issued. Green tags are only valid for 90 days.
• All permits must be finalized.
• A new application and inspection are required when there is a change of ownership or property management.
• The tenant has 90 days from the date of passed inspection to apply for water services.

A rental property must successfully pass an interior and exterior inspection in order to obtain a Rental Property License (RPL). Rental properties are expected to meet the minimum standards set forth in the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code and the International Residential Code as well as any applicable city codes that have been adopted by the City Council.