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Frostburg council adopts ordinance changes that centralize inspections, tighten registration rules
Summary
Frostburg City adopted amendments to its rental housing ordinance that move inspections in‑house, tighten timelines for scheduling and repairs, update registration requirements and fees, and clarify enforcement; the changes will take effect in early July, officials said.
On Tuesday evening, Frostburg City Director of Community Development Bethany Fife said the mayor and council voted to adopt amendments to the city’s rental housing ordinance that centralize inspections under a full‑time city inspector and change registration and enforcement rules. The amendments are scheduled to take effect in early July.
The changes aim to standardize inspection procedures, improve enforcement clarity and run the program on a cost‑neutral basis funded by rental registration fees. "Under the new model, all inspections, including reinspections, will be conducted by a full time city rental housing inspector," Fife said. She added: "We hope that this change will bring greater consistency, oversight, and efficiency to the entire program."
Key changes include centralizing inspections with city staff rather than privately contracted inspectors, requiring property owners to schedule inspections within 30 days of notice and completing the inspection within 90 days (with limited extensions). Fife said inspections will continue to occur every three years. When violations are found, most must be corrected within 30 days and urgent violations within three business days. If a unit is not brought into compliance, the city may revoke its rental registration and post the unit as ineligible for occupancy until corrections are verified.
The ordinance amendments also modernize registration. The annual registration deadline remains Feb. 1, but registrations received after April 1 will incur a $100 per unit late fee in addition to a $250 citation, Fife said. The city will offer a secure online portal for registration and payment while keeping paper forms available by request. The updated registration form will require owners to indicate whether a unit is occupied or vacant and whether it is a short‑term vacation rental or a regular rental.
Certification and conflict‑of‑interest rules were clarified. Fife said all inspectors, whether city employees or third parties, must be certified through the International Code Council. Inspectors are barred from inspecting properties where they or immediate family members have a financial or employment connection. The amendments also clean up definitions of "vacant unit," "immediate family member" and "primary residence," which the city said will make enforcement more consistent.
On enforcement, Fife said violations will continue to be treated as municipal infractions and may carry fines. "The goal is always compliance, not punishment," she said. The city said it intends for the program to be funded entirely by registration fees and to operate cost neutrally.
Fife identified Mary Gracie as the rental housing program coordinator and said Gracie and city staff are available to help owners and agents understand the new requirements. "We know that change is hard, but we are here to help you through every step of the process," Fife said. "Please feel free to reach out to us."
