Harrisburg rental property inspection program; Harrisburg Bill # 13 of 2010

In the mid-1990's, Harrisburg City adopted its first rental inspection ordinance. The ordinance required owners of rental units to have those units inspected every three years and to pay a regular inspection fee. In the 15 years since that ordinance was adopted, the overall condition of rental properties in Harrisburg has not improved.

Early in 2010, Bill # 13 was introduced in City Council, which bill would create permits for rental owners and establish a residency requirement. (The Bill has not yet passed.) While I will explore this Bill in more detail in the future, the following language from the 2010 Bill is significant:

A growing concern exists in the City regarding the general lack of maintenance, upkeep and resultant decline in the physical condition of residential rental units. The City has experienced a greater incidence and severity of violations of City Codes at residential rental properties, as compared to owner-occupied properties. . . .

Section 8-511.2(a)

If the language of the new proposed Ordinance is to be believed, the original ordinance has not worked. Despite 15 years of inspections, the City considers the stock of rental properties in Harrisburg to be of declining quality.
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