Bill Summaries: H 554 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSPECTIONS.

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  • Summary date: Mar 30 2011 - View Summary

    Amends GS 153A-364 (pertaining to counties) and GS 160A-424 (pertaining to cities) as the title indicates.
    Provides that a local government inspection department may make periodic inspections only when there is reasonable cause to believe that unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise hazardous or unlawful conditions exist in the building. Defines reasonable cause to mean that (1) landlord or owner has a substantial history of noncompliance with unit’s ordinances on unsafe buildings, (2) there has been a report that substandard conditions exist within the building or an occupant has requested that the building be inspected, or (3) the inspection department has actual knowledge of unsafe conditions within the building that was acquired as a result of “routine business activities” conducted by the local government. Prohibits an inspection department from “discriminating” between single-family and multi-family buildings or between owner-occupied and tenant-occupied buildings. Adds a new GS 160A-424(b) and GS 153A-364(b) to allow local governments to require periodic inspections as part of a targeted effort to respond to blighted or potentially blighted conditions within a Community Development Block Grant area that has been designated by the governing board, the Division of Community Assistance (Department of Commerce), or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Adds a new GS 153A-364(c) and GS 160A-424(c) to prohibit a local government from (1) requiring registration of residential rental property, (2) adopting or enforcing a local ordinance that requires any owner or manager of a rental property to obtain any permit or permission from local government to lease residential real property, (3) requiring an owner or manager of residential rental property to enroll in any governmental program as a condition of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, or (4) levying a special fee or tax on residential rental property that is not also levied against other commercial and residential properties.