Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Euclid council adopts contractor-registration change to require owner-occupancy for waivers
Summary
After extended debate about enforcement, Euclid City Council passed an ordinance amending contractor-registration rules so owners who seek waivers must occupy the property; administration said the change will push non-occupying LLC owners to hire registered contractors and promised outreach to large owners.
Euclid City Council voted to amend the city code to require that, to receive certain contractor-registration waivers, the property owner must occupy the residence.
Administration officials said the amendment is intended to address an increase in out-of-area LLC ownership and a pattern of substandard work when nonoccupying owners pull permits or use unregistered contractors. "We have come across issues with some properties owned by LLCs and the work that's being done and the quality of work," Director Cooney said, adding the change does not alter permit requirements but changes registration for contractor waivers.
Several council members supported the measure as a way to direct more work to the city's vetted, registered contractors. Councilmember Cosgrove said the amendment should steer nonoccupying owners toward contractors the city has vetted and help protect tenants. But other council members pressed staff on how the new rule will be enforced against owners who live out of state or out of the country. Councilwoman Steele asked for concrete enforcement tools: "How are we going to get them to do the right thing? How we gonna put meat to this?" she asked.
The assistant to the mayor said staff plans outreach to known LLC owners and a 30-day notice period before the ordinance takes full effect to give property owners time to comply; staff also said current enforcement tools'including stop-work orders and referral to the law department'remain available.
Council adopted the ordinance on a roll-call vote after debate. Administration and council members described the change as one step in a broader strategy to improve housing stock and tenant safety, and said further work on staffing, rental registration fees and enforcement resources will follow.
The ordinance itself modifies section 17 o 5.03 of the codified ordinances to require owner-occupancy for the waiver and directs staff to update application forms and outreach procedures. The city said it will communicate directly with large LLC owners that hold multiple properties to ensure awareness and compliance.
