ZELIENOPLE — Landlords in Zelienople may soon be required to apply for a license to rent out property.

Borough council voted unanimously Monday to advertise a proposed ordinance for public review on how the borough handles residential rental licenses. The proposed ordinance would require any landlords to receive a license from the borough’s code enforcement officer, Jason Sarver, in order to rent out properties.

Under the proposed ordinance, rental licenses would have a term of three years. Landlords would be required to submit an application to the building inspector or code enforcement officer with a description of the rental, the owner’s name, contact information and more.

Additionally, in order to receive a license, all overdue or delinquent real estate taxes or other fines to the borough would have to be paid in full.

Also, the property would have to be inspected to ensure it complies with borough ordinances and other relevant legislation.

Once a license is in place, the property owner would have to notify the borough of changes to the renters’ contact information as renters come and go.

Landlords wouldn’t need to pay any fees in order to register for a license, but anyone who rents out property without a license would face a fine of $500 for each rental unit operated in violation of the proposed ordinance. They also could face further penalties over court costs, citations and added fines for each day the property lease continues without a license.

“This has been a long process,” Sarver said. “There’s been a lot of thought that’s gotten put into it. There’ve been a lot of comments that have gotten put into it. ... Every single comment that comes to me gets passed on to you all, because you’re the decision-makers.”

Sarver said the program still needs public approval to move forward.

The proposed legislation was one of three ordinances that council approved Monday for advertisement.

One ordinance proposes requirements for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb rentals, including restrictions on location within the borough and a $100 required license.

Another ordinance could impose a parallel policy for commercial properties.

Borough manager Don Pepe said this process, called an authorization to advertise, marks an early stage in the development of any program that could take shape over time.

“Remember, when you have an ordinance, if the comments are not substantial enough to change the course of the ordinance, you don’t need to re-advertise,” Pepe said. “If it is, then you have to re-advertise by law.”

The proposed ordinances also will be posted this week on the borough’s website for residents to review.