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Code enforcement reports progress on rental renewals, DCRs and a pilot ticketing program
Summary
The Borough's code-enforcement director reported increased permit closures in March, a longer rental-renewal window to help landlords comply, a joint education plan with West Chester University on disorderly-conduct reports (DCRs), and early success from targeted ticketing on Price Street.
Aaron Fluke, director of Building, Housing and Code Enforcement, told the Smart Growth Committee his office has moved to give rental-property owners more lead time for annual renewals (90 days ahead of the May 1 start) to reduce last-minute compliance issues.
Fluke reported 55 permits were closed in March across residential and commercial work, totaling roughly $478,000 in renovations. He said 22 café permits have been issued with eight still outstanding as officials finish occupancy-load calculations.
On student-rental issues, Fluke described a planned joint outreach with West Chester University and landlords to clarify chapter 66 processes and the role of Disorderly Conduct Reports (DCRs), which staff said are issued by police and then monitored by the Boroughs code office under the point system. Fluke said the goal is education first, then enforcement, and that landlords currently do not always share DCR details with tenants; the outreach will explain rights and procedures to both groups.
Fluke also described targeted enforcement on Price Street where education plus graduated enforcement reduced ticket counts in one month from earlier double-digit figures to a single ticket in the recent reporting period. He said the Borough will continue to track repeat violators and escalate remedies when warnings do not work.
Finally, Fluke updated the committee on corrective-action plans (CAPs) after larger party citations: 500 South Walnut (two citations; CAP outstanding), 443 South High (CAP returned but insufficient), and 315 South High (multiple charges; CAP under review and owner engaged on building corrections). Staff said they conducted follow-up inspections where necessary and will continue enforcement actions using progressive sanctions and CAP reviews.
The committee did not take formal votes on enforcement policy but asked staff to return with data and materials for further discussion.
