PARIS – Complaints of inadequate heating and concerns about electrical codes not being met have prompted town officials to consider a rental ordinance.
Code Enforcement Officer Al Holden presented a draft of the proposed “rental occupancy ordinance” to the Paris Planning Board on Wednesday. He said the document would regulate everything from apartments to commercial spaces.
Holden said he has received complaints about apartments and found problems ranging from extremely poor insulation to weak floors and self-installed electrical systems. “Basically, with a rental property you’re supposed to have a master electrician,” he said, pointing out one area the town needs to address.
To this end, the proposed ordinance would establish a set of housing standards and require that landlords apply for occupancy permits before renting their properties.
Before a permit will be issued, the ordinance states, “The Paris Code Enforcement Officer determines that the dwelling is structurally sound in accordance with the standards of the Paris Building Ordinance.”
The code officer also is required to ensure that the landlord’s wiring, plumbing and fire protection measures meet state and local codes, and that there are no “known health or safety hazards” on the property.
Holden said the ordinance was modeled after a similar document used in Norway.
Norway Code Enforcement Officer Jeff VanDecker said Thursday that the town’s rental ordinance went into effect in August 1993. “It gives you something to stand on,” he said.
Over the last 10 years, Van Decker said, he has found fewer violations and higher quality while inspecting rental units. “So I think it’s paying off,” he said.
In the beginning, VanDecker noted, Norway conducted inspections of rental properties every two years. Now they are completed every three years.
Holden said an inspection schedule would be established if the proposed rental ordinance is enacted by voters. As a next step, Fergus Lea, planning division director for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, is being asked to review the document.
Planning Board Chairman Russ Case said he would like to have the rental ordinance ready for voter consideration at the annual town meeting in June. “I don’t know how much we’re going to get to the voters,” he added. “We’re trying to do subdivisions too.”
Case was referring to plans to seek voter approval for changes to the town subdivision ordinance.
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