High court takes on "Landlords vs Code Enforcement"

If you missed this, here is an article about an interesting case involving the City of St Paul Minn and their recent "crack-down" of enforcing the codes beyond those standards already applied for federal housing subsidies. The entire article is found here. This suit brings into question the tactics that cities and municipalities implore to raise the housing standards, particularly in economically distressed neighborhoods and striking the right balance between offering fair housing and a place that is safe and up to code. This case should further clarify the courts position on FHA's standards for fair housing discrimination where it has become increasingly inconsistent among the various circuit courts throughout the country.

Does that tree house have a permit?

For those of you in Zoning Enforcement, you might be interested in this story. To summarize, the owner is an active member of the armed services and he had this built on his property:

He ran afoul of the law when he constructed a tree house without a permit. Now the local zoning board has issued an order to have it removed. OUCH! I'm not in zoning enforcement, but I can't help but to feel sympathetic to both sides of this, the military dad and the zoning official. Fortunately, our city does not regulate tree houses!

GFCI's Where does your jursidiction stand on this?

A fellow inspector took this up as his "pet peeve", if you will, as a part of the property maintenance ordinance that he absolutely checks on at every inspection. The problem is, our city ordinances only requires them to be installed in bathrooms since we are operating on the 1996 IPMC. Current ICC codes requires them to be installed within 6 feet of a water source, as well as kitchen counters, wet bars, outside receptacles, garages, crawlspaces, boathouses, areas around swimming pools, spa's, hot tubs and unfinished basements. All you every wanted to know about GFCI's can be found here.

New construction will be up to date with these code changes. But in the rental licensing inspections we do, the standard is not up to par, or up to code in this case. There's a fine line between enforcing safety codes and causing an undue hardship for landlords. It seems as though the costs of adding one are minimal if you consider the safety benefit.

What does your town or city requires for existing properties? What version of the IPMC are you working with? Assuming you have a regular inspection program, are your codes up-to-date with ICC as it relates to GFCI's?

Free Training Alert

Just wanted to pass this along for anyone that might me interested in picking up some CEU's:

http://www.iccsafe.org/Education/Courses/Lists/Schedule/DetailForm.aspx?ID=1192&source=http://www.iccsafe.org/Education/Courses/Pages/Schedule.aspx




And here's a good bookmark for future training training opportunities sponsored by the State of Maryland, Department of Housing and Community Development:

http://www.mdboa.com/shop/index.php?target=categories&category_id=6

Need your certification?

The 2010 AACE Bulletin is your ONE informational source for taking the exam for;

CERTIFIED PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING INSPECTOR (ID 61)
CERTIFIED ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (ID 72)
CERTIFIED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
CERTIFIED CODE ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATOR

http://www.aace1.com/associations/5378/files/AACE%20Bulletin%20410.pdf

Need to renew? Don't wait. Avoid the $50.00 reinstatement fee and prepare for your renewal today!

Winter 2010 Business Meeting - RESCHEDULED!

THE CODE ENFORCEMENT & ZONING
OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND

Winter 2010 Business Meeting
Below date cancelled due to snow
Friday, February 12, 2010
RESCHEDULED FOR
MARCH 19, 2010
On-site registration 9:00-9:30 AM
Meeting will begin at 9:30 AM
City of Salisbury Fire Department
Fire Station #16
325 Cypress Street
Salisbury Maryland 21801
Agenda:
9:30 – 10:00 AM: Welcome by Host City
Representatives, CEZOA President Tom
Stevenson and Introduction to Salisbury City
Programs by Susan Phillips – Housing
Supervisor
10:00 – 10:15 AM: Break
10:15 – 11:00 AM: Training Session with
Andrea Baker of the Maryland Department of
the Environment – LEAD AS IT RELATES TO
RENTAL PROPERTIES
11:00 – 11:15 AM: Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Training (continued)
with Donnie Williams – Local Landlord
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM: LUNCH
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Business Meeting

----------------------------------------------------------
Registration Form
Participant’s Name: _______________________________________________________
Position/Title: ___________________________________________________________
Organization: ____________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________________________
Fax: _______________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________
Jeannie Ripley, City of College Park, CEZOA Treasurer, at 4601-A Calvert Road,
College Park, MD 20740, should receive registration no later than Friday, February
5, 2010. Checks should be made payable to CEZOA. Cost is $20.00 and includes
coffee, pastries and lunch.

Winter Meeting, Salisbury Md

THE CODE ENFORCEMENT & ZONING
OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND

Winter 2010 Business Meeting
Friday, February 12, 2010
On-site registration 9:00-9:30 AM
Meeting will begin at 9:30 AM

City of Salisbury Fire Department
Fire Station #16
325 Cypress Street
Salisbury Maryland 21801

Agenda:
9:30 – 10:00 AM: Welcome by Host City
Representatives, CEZOA President Tom
Stevenson and Introduction to Salisbury City
Programs by Susan Phillips – Housing
Supervisor
10:00 – 10:15 AM: Break
10:15 – 11:00 AM: Training Session with
Andrea Baker of the Maryland Department of
the Environment – LEAD AS IT RELATES TO
RENTAL PROPERTIES
11:00 – 11:15 AM: Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Training (continued)
with Donnie Williams – Local Landlord
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM: LUNCH
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Business Meeting

----------------------------------------------------------
Registration Form
Participant’s Name: _______________________________________________________
Position/Title: ___________________________________________________________
Organization: ____________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________________________
Fax: _______________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________
Jeannie Ripley, City of College Park, CEZOA Treasurer, at 4601-A Calvert Road,
College Park, MD 20740, should receive registration no later than Friday, February
5, 2010. Checks should be made payable to CEZOA. Cost is $20.00 and includes
coffee, pastries and lunch.