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Lower Frederick to draft updated resale (use-and-occupancy) and rental inspection requirements, including sewer lateral checks
Summary
Staff will draft a proposed ordinance to reinstate and modernize resale (use-and-occupancy) inspections and add sewer-lateral inspection requirements for property transfers; board favored a draft for review that could require third-party TV inspections for laterals and periodic rental registrations.
Staff presented proposed updates to the township code to revisit certificates of use-and-occupancy and to consider adding mandatory resale inspections and sewer-lateral checks at transfer. The currently used notarized affidavit (covering smoke detectors and basic safety items) was described as insufficient by staff, who recommended updating the International Property Maintenance Code and producing a clear inspection checklist.
On lateral inspections, staff reported the Southeast regional sewer authority (SBA) estimates and market research show a typical camera inspection runs from about $350 to $1,000, depending on run length and needed remediation. "If there is an issue then this would be remedied prior to selling a home," staff said, explaining that lateral TV work requires licensed contractors and cannot be performed in-house.
Board members discussed implementation options: (1) have township building/zoning staff perform a limited safety-focused resale inspection (smoke detectors, GFCIs, handrails) and require sellers or buyers to arrange third-party sewer-lateral TV inspections when applicable, or (2) contract with a third-party inspection firm for both safety and lateral work. The board asked staff to prepare a straw-man draft ordinance, an inspection template, and a cost/implementation analysis for review at the next work session.
On rental-unit oversight, staff proposed either inspection at tenant turnover or a predictable periodic schedule (for example, every three years). Several supervisors favored a predictable periodic schedule to ensure long-term-occupied units receive periodic safety checking. Staff will bring sample ordinances and a template for board review.
