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Panel raises administrative fines for building-code violations, routes revenue to impacted tenants fund
Summary
Board Bill 169 raises administrative fines for most violations under chapter 25, increasing the first violation to $100, the second to $250 and third-plus to $500, and directs collected revenue to the Impacted Tenants Fund. Committee set the effective date to Sept. 1, 2025 and advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation.
The Public Safety Committee advanced Board Bill 169 as amended, increasing administrative fines for violations under Chapter 25 of the municipal code as part of a three-bill package addressing vacant and deteriorated properties.
Under the amended measure, administrative penalties would increase from current very low levels to $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second violation, and $500 for the third and all subsequent violations. Sponsors emphasized the increases are intended to promote compliance; the Building Division retains authority to waive fines when appropriate. Committee members also added an amendment changing the effective date to Sept. 1, 2025 to permit administrative preparation and hiring to support enforcement.
Sponsors told the committee the changes are modest but modernize fines that have not kept pace with inflation and have failed to deter repeat noncompliance. The bill directs that revenue from these administrative fines be deposited into the Impacted Tenants Fund, a city fund intended to support people affected by housing instability or displacement. The sponsor said prior ad hoc recovery efforts collected roughly $250,000 in a pilot year and that targeted staffing could expand collections from the estimated $21.6 million in outstanding fines and fees identified during committee testimony.
Public and committee comments: Legal Services’ Peter Hoffman testified in support, saying the modest fine increases and improved collection tools together represent a "paradigm shift" needed to address persistent nuisance properties. Committee members from multiple wards praised the measure as a compliance-focused step that complements Bills 170 and 171.
Outcome: The committee adopted the sponsor amendment changing the effective date and advanced Board Bill 169 as amended out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.
Next steps: Departments will coordinate implementation details before the Sept. 1, 2025 effective date, including staffing and procedures to ensure fines are properly assessed, collected, and directed to the Impacted Tenants Fund.
