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Council adopts biannual parking-ramp licensing and inspection requirement
Summary
The council approved an ordinance requiring biannual operational licensing and state-engineer inspection reports for parking ramps (fee $175 per ramp every two years) to improve public safety and ramp maintenance oversight.
Bloomington adopted an ordinance establishing a biannual parking-ramp operational license that requires property owners to submit an application and an engineer's inspection report for qualifying ramps.
Building official Bernadette Gillespie told the council the city has 179 ramps, most older than 20 years, and proposed a two-year license with a $175 fee per ramp to cover administrative costs. The program will require a licensed structural engineer to submit a condition report; staff will review reports and follow up on any required repairs. Gillespie said the ordinance would allow staff to issue licenses with conditions and pursue enforcement if owners fail to make required repairs.
Gillespie noted that some ramp owners already perform routine inspections and maintenance; she said the ordinance was revised during stakeholder outreach to exempt single-level slab-on-grade garages that do not have the same exposure to deicing and multi-level stressors.
Council members who spoke in favor called the requirement common sense and said similar programs already exist in other cities. Council member Cutter said the ordinance offers a practical way to reduce the risk of future structural failures and to identify maintenance needs earlier. The council closed the public hearing with no public speakers and voted to adopt the ordinance and direct summary publication.
If adopted, the ordinance becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026, with applications due by Jan. 30, 2026; staff will provide a grace period for ramp owners to submit required engineering reports as the program is implemented. Gillespie said initial outreach already included letters to ramp owners and stakeholder meetings earlier in 2025.
