315.005.  Definitions. — As used in sections 315.005 to 315.065, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Code", the standards relating to fire safety, sanitation, electrical wiring, fuel-burning appliances, plumbing, swimming pools and spas, sewage and waste treatment and disposal as adopted by the department.  The department in its discretion, may incorporate, in whole or in part, the standards or codes promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, Building Officials and Code Administration International, Inc., Great Lakes Upper Mississippi River Board of State Sanitary Engineers, and American Society of Sanitary Engineers;

  (2)  "Department", the director of the department of health and senior services or an agent of the director of the department of health and senior services;

  (3)  "Guest room", any room or unit where sleeping accommodations are regularly furnished to the public;

  (4)  "Lodging establishment", any building, group of buildings, structure, facility, place, or places of business where five or more guest rooms are provided, which is owned, maintained, or operated by any person and which is kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public for hire which can be construed to be a hotel, motel, motor hotel, apartment hotel, tourist court, resort, cabins, tourist home, bunkhouse, dormitory, or other similar place by whatever name called, and includes all such accommodations operated for hire as lodging establishments for either transient guests, permanent guests, or for both transient and permanent guests;

  (5)  "Owner", the person responsible for obtaining a license from the department for operating the lodging establishment;

  (6)  "Permanent guest", any person who rents and occupies a guest room in a lodging establishment for a period of thirty-one days or more;

  (7)  "Person", any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, firm, or federal, state, county, city, village, or municipal association or corporation;

  (8)  "Transient guest", any person who rents and occupies a guest room in a lodging establishment for a period of less than thirty-one days.