Fargo staff present local amendments to International Property Maintenance Code affecting rentals, day cares and smoke alarms

Lynn Olson, a rental housing inspector in Fargo's Building Inspections Department, presented proposed local amendments to the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) at the meeting under unfinished business.

Olson told the board the proposal includes new local designations, enforcement provisions, fee changes and new safety requirements aimed at rental properties and home day-care operations. "Both rental and code enforcement enforce the International Property Maintenance Code and this will change their fee from $75 to $150," Olson said.

Key elements Olson described include:

- Fee and enforcement changes: Code-enforcement fees for rental and code enforcement activities would increase from $75 to $150. Olson said the code now explicitly authorizes the inspections department to enforce the IPMC and to collect the higher fee; the proposal also adds a $150 fee to replace or remove a building placard.

- Secondary certificate of occupancy for rentals: A new secondary certificate of occupancy would be required when dwelling or sleeping units are occupied by tenants (any occupant other than the owner…