Sandusky commission passes ordinance to address nonvacant commercial building maintenance

The Sandusky City Commission passed an ordinance on June 9 that amends the city's building-code provisions to add a new chapter addressing nonvacant commercial property maintenance and to adjust related residential and dangerous/unfit building code sections.

The ordinance, which amends Part 13 (building code) and adds Chapter 13.47 to the codified ordinances, was introduced by city staff and approved on first reading at the meeting. Commissioner Murray described the measure as a long-awaited tool: "We have long requested legislation, long needed legislation to address commercial buildings," he said, adding that the city currently lacks authority to address owners of commercial properties the same way it does for residential properties.

Commission discussion was limited. The ordinance passed on reading and commissioners indicated it will return to a future meeting for further action. Miss Myers called the roll during the vote; the roll-call in the transcript recorded support from the commissioners in attendance.

The ordinance text presented at the meeting references amendments to Part 13 (building code), Title 1 (building administration), a residential building-code board of appeals provision, Title 5 local provisions, and Chapter 13.45 (dangerous or unfit buildings), plus the addition of the new Chapter 13.47 for commercial property maintenance.

Next steps: the ordinance passed on reading and will appear again on a future agenda for further readings or final adoption. No implementation timetable or department assignment was stated during the discussion.