Haysville adopts residential building standards code to regulate rental housing

The Haysville City Council approved an ordinance establishing a residential building standards code that applies to non-owner-occupied dwellings, including rental houses and apartments.

Tony (department head) presented the ordinance and said it creates minimum requirements "to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of tenants and the general public" and lists required elements such as adequate sanitary facilities, plumbing, heating, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, trash service and freedom from insect and rodent infestations.

"Property owners are responsible for maintaining compliance regardless of lease agreements," Tony said, and he told the council that, without a code, staff had limited ability to help tenants who come to the city with unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.

The ordinance gives enforcement authority to the public works department and municipal court actions where necessary. Councilmember Grama moved to approve the ordinance; the motion received a second and the council approved it on a recorded vote.

Why it matters: Council members said the measure will give staff legal tools to address substandard rental housing complaints that previously were treated as civil matters between landlords and tenants.

The ordinance text as presented defines substandard dwellings to include unsafe structures, inadequate sanitation, and hazardous electrical or mechanical systems; it does not specify a required inspection cadence in the adopted motion. Staff invited council feedback on inspection frequency and enforcement procedures during implementation.