The City of DeKalb City Council has passed a sweeping new ordinance geared at making sure all city residents live in safe and adequate housing that meets safety codes.
According to the ordinance, which can be read in its entirety on Page 15A of this issue, the purpose for it is: The city recognizes the need for implementation of a policy that requires the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and performance of a life, health and safety inspection before water utility services can be connected or reconnected to any residential structure in the city in an effort to monitor ownership and standards of all residential structures, thereby reducing the number of demolitions of dilapidated and/ or abandoned residential structures within the city. The city also recognizes the need for an organized inspection program for new and aging residential rental units in order to ensure that all rental units meet city and state safety, health, fire and zoning codes and to provide a more efficient system for compelling both absentee and local landlords to correct violations and to maintain, in proper condition, rental property within the city. The city recognizes that implementation of the certificate of occupancy and life, health and safety inspection policy is the most efficient system to monitor occupancy and standards of all residential rental units and thereby ensure that orderly inspection schedules can be maintained by city officials.
DeKalb Mayor Lowell Walker spoke to the Tribune about the new ordinance, calling it a much-needed move by city leaders to better the town.
