No Decision Yet on Proposed Rental Ordinance for Louisville

An overflow crowd packed the Louisville City Hall on Tuesday for a public hearing on a proposed rental property ordinance. With 45-50 citizens in attendance, there was insufficient room in the Aldermen's Meeting Room and some waited patiently just outside the open doors for an opportunity to be heard. The City's courtroom is currently in the process of remodeling and was not available for use.

Rental property owners and tenants alike expressed their views and asked questions on proposed requirements in the ordinance that would affect both in some capacity. A draft of the ordinance is available on the city's website. Under the preliminary proposal, property owners would be required to register their rental property with the city. There is no cost associated with the registration except for a fine if you fail to do so.  Registration is intended to help the city identify owners and responsible parties for absentee landlords.  New tenants would also be required to pay a small fee when opening a new utility account to cover inspection costs.

Questions and comments ranged from inspection requirements,code enforcement and  future costs and HUD housing requirements. Aldermen and Mayor Hill assured the crowd that the ordinance in its current form was not final and changes may yet be made based on public input.

No decision was reached in the public hearing or in the Board of Aldermen meeting that occurred immediately afterwards. The Board voted to hold an additional public meeting at some point in the future to take the public's input into consideration and to allow more space for those in attendance. That meeting has not yet been scheduled.

W. McCully