§ 22-2-16. Same—separate meter required for each premises.

(a)

A separate water meter shall be required for each individual premises, house, lot or subdivision thereof, except auxiliary premises or buildings upon the main premises, lot or subdivision thereof which auxiliary building or premises is controlled by the occupant of the main building or premises; but, if such auxiliary building or premises constitutes a complete living unit, including kitchen facilities, such auxiliary building or premises shall be provided with a separate meter and separate connection to the water main.

(b)

Apartment buildings and residential condominium buildings completed after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives, as amended. All apartment buildings and residential condominium buildings for which construction is completed and certificates of occupancy are granted after the effective date of this section may provide separate water meters for each residential unit, and such meters shall be installed according to the City of Biloxi's codes, standards, procedures, tap fees and costs for meters and installation; provided, however, the building owner or condominium association or the owner of any apartment or condominium unit may apply to the city for installation of a meter or meters by the city with the usual costs, financing costs, and fees of the meter and installation to be amortized on their water bills over a period of five years, according to a mutually agreed, commercially reasonable, financing agreement and amortization schedule that are acceptable to the city's lender for financing such installation. Further, if the owner of an apartment building applies to the city for meter installation, such owner shall pay for the cost and fees for installation of all meters for any unit whose tenant is a senior citizen according to the definition of senior users of water meters in section 22-2-33 of this Code and shall not pass on the cost of such meter and installation to the senior citizen tenant in rent or other assessments.

(c)

Apartment buildings and residential condominium buildings completed prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives, as amended . All apartment buildings and residential condominium buildings that were completed prior to the effective date of this ordinance may provide separate water meters for each residential unit, and such meters shall be installed according to the City of Biloxi's codes, standards, procedures, fees and costs for meters and installation; provided, however, the building owner or condominium association or the owner of any apartment or condominium unit may apply to the city for installation of a meter or meters by the city with the usual costs, financing costs, and fees of the meter and installation to be amortized on their water bills over a period of five years, according to a mutually agreed, commercially reasonable, financing agreement and amortization schedule that are acceptable to the city's lender for financing such installation. Further, if the owner of an apartment building applies to the city for meter installation, such owner shall pay for the cost and fees for installation of all meters for any unit whose tenant is a senior citizen according to the definition of senior users of water meters in section 22-2-33 of this Code and shall not pass on the cost of such meter and installation to the senior citizen tenant in rent or other assessments. For all new metered accounts established pursuant to this subsection (c), the City of Biloxi hereby waives the requirement for a deposit on the account for the initial account holder. For all subsequent account holders, a deposit shall be required.

(d)

To be eligible to apply for any meters to be installed pursuant to this section 22-2-16, the property owner must deliver to the city, without cost to the city, an easement on, over, across, and under the subject private property for the water lines and meters that may be installed, in the city's discretion, within the private property and on or in the private buildings, at locations to be determined by the city. All meters and water lines installed within such easements on private property shall be maintained at the cost of the private property owner.

(Code 1959, § 20-1-16; Ord. No. 2300 , § 1, 2-23-2016)