Decatur Building Standards Commission unanimously backs adding minimum service requirements to property-standards ordinance

The Decatur Building Standards Commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt a revision to Section 10-111 of the city’s minimum property standards ordinance that would add minimum service requirements for occupied dwellings, commissioners said.

Commissioners said the proposed new subsection would require residential units to have basic, functioning services — including a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, water closet, hot and cold running water, water heating, heating facilities and basic electrical fixtures — and that those fixtures be connected to potable water and wastewater systems and maintained in good and sanitary working condition.

Commissioner Sean moved to approve the recommendation and Commissioner Danny seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The commission’s action was limited to a recommendation to city council; no ordinance change is…