Columbus council holds hearing on proposed city rental registry, seeks input on fees, inspections and enforcement

Council member Nick Bankston opened a public hearing Oct. 25 on a draft proposal to create a Columbus rental registry, saying the measure is intended to improve safety, make it easier to contact responsible owners and reduce emergency displacements such as those at Sawyer Towers and Colonial Village.

"For many rental properties, we have no reliable way to get a hold of the owner or someone in charge should an emergency arise," Bankston said, adding that the city lacks reliable data on how many rental units exist and the condition of those units.

The registry as described by city staff would require annual registration for most residential rentals, a proposed fee of $40 per unit capped at $5,000 per property, and a three‑tiered inspection framework that focuses first on core mechanical and life‑safety systems such as HVAC, hot water and fire protection. For smaller owners with four units or fewer who have no outstanding code violations, staff described a potential affidavit pathway in lieu of a full inspection.

"We are trying to minimize costs. We're trying to make it as simple as possible for folks to comply," Scott Messer, director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services, told council. Messer said the registry is intended to create a localized contact for properties and to give the city advance notice about aging systems so the city can partner with owners before conditions force mass evacuations.

Deputy Director Hannah Jones of the Department of Development said the registry would include owner and local point‑of‑contact information, inspections carried out by licensed contractors for higher‑risk properties, and mechanisms for…