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Durham staff propose revisions to minimum housing code; public hearing set for June 15
Summary
City staff proposed changes to the minimum housing code to align with national property-maintenance standards and clarify responsibilities: proposals include removing minimum kitchen area for tiny units, strengthening moisture and mold language, clarifying pest-elimination responsibilities, drainage and slope criteria, and giving enforcement authority for stop-work orders; council scheduled a public hearing for June 15, 2025.
Housing and code-enforcement staff presented a suite of proposed amendments to Durham’s minimum housing code designed to align local standards with the International Property Maintenance Code and other national healthy-housing practices, and to clarify enforcement responsibilities.
Key changes include removing minimum kitchen-area requirements to accommodate smaller dwellings such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and tiny homes; prohibiting interior keyed deadbolts that can prevent emergency egress; clarifying that air conditioning is not required but any installed AC must work and be leak-free; and adding clearer language on interior and exterior moisture, dampness and visible deterioration that can foster mold growth.
Staff also proposed drainage and slope requirements to reduce erosion and overland flow that could damage structures or neighboring properties, clearer definitions and maintenance standards for fences and accessory structures, and explicit responsibilities for pest elimination. For multifamily properties the owner would be responsible for pest elimination and preventing reinfestation; for single‑family units the occupant generally has responsibility unless the infestation is due to a structural defect, in which case the owner must remediate.
The draft gives code enforcement authority to issue stop-work orders in coordination with building safety when unsafe conditions arise. Staff said the changes aim to improve clarity, protect occupant health and safety, and make enforcement easier to apply consistently. A public hearing on the ordinance amendments is scheduled for the council meeting on June 15, 2025.
What’s next: Council will take public testimony at the June 15 hearing and may vote on adopting the amendments after hearing public comment and any final revisions.
