The Terre Haute City Council approved General Ordinance 4-20-25 on second reading, creating a rental property registration and inspection program intended to build a citywide database of rental addresses and inspection history.

The ordinance, which staff reorganized from Chapter 10 into a new registries division in Chapter 4 (Article 27), redefines "major violation" to mean a "major deficiency, or significant noncompliance with applicable code requirements," clarifies that a formal violation generally occurs only after a property owner fails to correct noncompliant conditions within a provided timeline, and removes prior warrant-to-enter language.

Marcus, the city staff presenter, said the revised language was intended to avoid immediately classifying every code finding as a violation. "We redefined a major violation, to be any violation, major deficiency, or significant noncompliance with applicable code requirements," Marcus said, and later summarized: "a violation does not occur until you don't make the corrections in the violation notice."

Council discussion focused on enforcement practicality, operator requirements, fees and scope. Councilperson Bullard asked about the removed warrant language; Marcus and Jason, inspections staff, said the city has rarely pursued warrants and expects to rely on outreach, letters, doorknocks and, when necessary, court orders. Jason said interior access is not an automatic result of an exterior complaint: inspectors will document exterior conditions and will only go inside if tenants or owners provide access or an inspection leads to further complaint.

On contractor requirements, the council discussed that licensed contractors are already required for work when the person doing the work does not live in the property; staff said some standard maintenance items may be handled by a homeowner or handyman, while mechanical/structural work typically requires a licensed contractor.

The registration fee structure shown in the ordinance sets a $5 fee for units and buildings in one treatment (the council noted this figure originated from state guidance). The ordinance requires registrants to provide contact information; staff said the data will be stored in City Works, integrated with the city's GIS, and will allow the inspections department to track repeat offenders and create inspection reports with photos to be retained in the database. Staff said the fire marshal will have access to the registry.

Marcus and staff described plans to ease bulk registration for large managers via an API/Excel import and to work with third-party consultants to build a registration form and photo-enabled inspection reports.

Council members voiced concern about enforcement: how to reach out-of-town owners, the potential for unregistered single-property owners to slip through, and the resource demands of enforcement. Councilperson Dinkle and others emphasized the registry's value as a planning and enforcement tool despite the anticipated enforcement workload.

The council amended the ordinance and then approved it. The ordinance now moves into implementation; staff will configure City Works forms, coordinate with IT for bulk imports, and provide access to the fire marshal and other departments as specified.