City to Hold Public Hearing on Tuesday for Proposed Rental Property Ordinance

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, January 15 at 5 PM at Louisville City Hall concerning the city’s consideration of a rental property ordinance. The discussion of a yearly registration on rental property has been ongoing for a period of time. City officials have had concerns about the condition, maintenance and possible code violations of some rental property. The city is also considering such an ordinance due to the costs and issues associated with solid waste on these properties. As tenants vacate properties, they often violate solid waste pickup rules which means extra cost for the city.

A proposed inspection fee in the amount of $15 would be required of the tenant prior to the connection of utilities. City building officials would inspect properties upon change of tenants to ensure that the premises meet the international property maintenance code that has been adopted by the City of Louisville.

City officials indicate that the proposed ordinance is more about getting information than it is about collecting fees or issuing fines. Per the ordinance draft, “the intent of this code is to establish base standards for rental housing in Louisville so as to prevent or correct deterioration, slum like and blighted conditions and protect the health, safety and welfare of the community”. The yearly registration would provide the city with information necessary to identify and locate the responsible party for a rental property even in the case of an absentee landlord.

 A draft of the ordinance is available upon the city’s website at www.cityoflouisvillems.com on the news link or by clicking here.

The public is encouraged to attend the hearing and provide input into the ordinance.