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Commissioner Petrucci says proactive rental inspections have covered 11,836 units; council asks for violation breakouts and compliance data
Summary
Commissioner Petrucci reported 11,836 units inspected to date under the proactive rental-inspection program (6,213 in 2025) and reaffirmed the 30,000-over-five-years goal. Councilors asked for district breakouts, violation types, and disposition/compliance data; Petrucci said the department can provide reports and is coordinating with Erie County Health Department.
Commissioner Petrucci gave the Committee on Community Development an update on the city's proactive rental-inspection program, reporting that 11,836 units have been inspected to date under the program.
"Number of units inspected to date under the program is 11,836," Petrucci said, adding that in 2025 the department inspected 6,213 units. He said the original program design called for 30,000 units over five years (roughly 6,000 a year), and that the city is back on track to meet that goal. Petrucci said the department expects the second and third inspection cycles to take less time as landlords and tenants become familiar with requirements.
Petrucci described other steps: updating the certificate of rental compliance to reflect additional questions; making certificates publicly accessible on the department's website; exploring administrative adjudication to address violations more swiftly than court; and soliciting tablets and software to improve field efficiency.
Council members asked for more detailed reporting: a breakdown of findings by violation type (lead paint, electrical, plumbing, etc.), by district, and data on dispositions and compliance (how many violations were resolved). One council member asked for quarterly reports and pointed to the need for clear disposition so the list does not resemble an unresolved 311 backlog. Petrucci said he and staff will provide reports and are coordinating with the Erie County Health Department to share data where possible.
Next steps: Petrucci agreed to provide district breakouts and compliance disposition data on a recurring basis and to pursue administrative adjudication and technology to improve inspector efficiency.
