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Council reviews draft habitability definition aimed at focusing enforcement on property owners
Summary
Staff proposed a habitability definition for code enforcement to emphasize property‑owner obligations (clean water, sanitation, electricity, ventilation, weather protection, heating) rather than punishing individuals who are houseless; enforcement would use existing code processes with notice and opportunity to cure.
Staff presented a draft habitability code amendment intended to define minimum standards (clean running water, adequate sanitary facilities, electricity, light, ventilation, protection from the elements and heating) and to place enforcement responsibility primarily on property owners rather than individuals who are houseless.
The presenter said the approach was chosen to avoid criminalizing people and to make property owners accountable: "rather than focusing on the individual involved and punishing, essentially someone who might be houseless or homeless, we're essentially putting some of the onus on the property owner themselves." Council members asked about enforcement mechanisms; staff said enforcement would follow normal code enforcement processes (warnings, citations) with notice and opportunity to cure, and that police involvement could be allowable under certain offenses. Council discussion was generally supportive of defining habitability but requested additional drafting for enforcement procedures and notice timelines.
No formal vote was taken on an ordinance; staff will refine the proposal and return with draft enforcement provisions.
