University Heights Council passes revised apartment registration and inspection ordinance

The University Heights City Council convened on March 3, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to the city's apartment building registration, permits, and inspections ordinance. This meeting marked the second reading of Ordinance 2025-02, which aims to enhance the regulation of apartment buildings within the city.

The ordinance, which has undergone revisions over the past four months, includes a crucial change that mandates all fees collected for registration and permits to be allocated specifically for the administration of the ordinance. This ensures that funds are used to cover the city's personnel and equipment costs associated with the registration, permitting, inspection, and certification of apartment buildings. The housing department will track these costs, and any excess funds at the end of the year will prompt a review of the fee structure for the following year.

During the meeting, council members raised concerns regarding the equity of the fee structure, particularly in comparison to inspection fees for single-family and two-family homes. Some members questioned why landlords of multi-unit buildings would face higher fees and less frequent inspections than those of smaller residential properties. The council acknowledged these disparities and indicated that further discussions would be necessary to address these concerns in future legislation.

The council also discussed the implications of the recent court ruling from Southern Ohio, which influenced the ordinance's revisions. Members emphasized the importance of starting with a reasonable fee structure while remaining open to adjustments based on future data and inspections.

Ultimately, the council voted to adopt the amended ordinance, signaling a commitment to improving housing regulations in University Heights. The council anticipates that the implementation of this ordinance will provide a framework for better oversight of apartment buildings and ensure that the city can effectively manage its housing resources. Further discussions on related ordinances for single-family and two-family homes are expected in the near future.