Housing Standards

Housing Standard History

In 2002, city staff took members of the Mayor and Council on a tour of some of the city distressed areas. What they saw was appalling and made them outraged. The Mayor and Council vowed to begin a program that would address substandard housing issues. Thus, housing standards were developed and a program implemented in 2004. The agreement was that if something wasn't done to address the housing issue, it could impact the bottom line economic growth of the city. A city wide housing assessment began.

Units were assessed via a windshield survey and assigned a score based on exterior factors only. The assessment factors considered were, roof, windows, foundation, siding, doors, trash and an overall score for exterior condition. The structures scoring in the highest quadrant were downloaded into the utility system and flagged to call for an inspection when the property became vacant, complaint was filed or permit purchased for repair need.

Housing Standards Inspections

Inspections are conducted via the following manners, i.e. account flagged calling for an inspection of utilities release, complaint(s) file, which takes president over all other, property owner's request for repairs. Overall, minimal code safety issues are being addressed according to guidelines as identified by International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).

On an average about 65 to 70 structures are inspected each month. Once a property has passed the pre-occupancy inspection, the only way it will be re- inspected again is during the bi-annual city wide assessment or a complaint is filed. The next assessment will be conduct in 2007.

Structures are moved each month from a level one, highest quadrant, requiring a pre-occupancy inspection to a level two, three or four depending on the repairs completed as determined by the inspector. Property owners have worked in concert with inspectors to bring about much needed changed to some properties. This creates a win-win situation for all involved.

If the inspector determines a structures is unfit for human habitation or is a hazard to the occupant and/or the public's health and safety, the structures is reviewed under the Unsafe Building ordinance- a separate legal process. For more information about occupied housing standards please contact Margurie Potts at mpotts@lagrangega.org or +1 706 883 2086. For unsafe or abandoned structures contact Glenn Conroy at gconroy@lagrangega.org or +1 706 883 2075.