Development Services/Code Enforcement Division            (785) 832-7700

                                                              1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 110                                          www.lawrenceks.org/pds

                                                              Lawrence, KS  66044

 

Ord. 8840 Draft 3

 

Rental Housing Inspection Form and Checklist - Chapter 9, Art. 6 (Property Maintenance Code) and Ch. 20 (Land Development Code)

 

The inspector performs a visual inspection of the premises based on the City’s currently adopted edition of the Property Maintenance Code (PMC) and the Land Development Code.  The inspection is limited to observations readily visible without moving or removing any item.  Furnishings are not moved.  Concealed, internal or hidden PMC damages or defects may not be observed.   The below list shows commonly found violations.  It is NOT intended to be a comprehensive list of all code violations that could occur.

                                                                                                                                               

Date:                         ___________________________________________                        Owner/Agent Name:___________________________________

Property Address:      ___________________________________________                     Owner/Agent email: ___________________________________

Unit Number:            ___________________________________________                       Inspector Name:       ___________________________________

 

                                                                               

P

F

Location and Description of Violation

Compliance Date

Windows and Doors (PMC Ch. 3)

 

 

 

 

  Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(304.13) Windows are installed in a manner that does not directly expose the interior to the elements (no missing window frames, sashes or pane/s).

 

 

 

 

(304.15) Exterior doors are in place and have operable locks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(304.18.2) Windows within 6 ft. of grade have operable locks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(304.13) Windows and exterior doors are weather tight and in good repair.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.14) Windows required for ventilation are supplied with tight fitting screens of not less than 16-mesh per inch.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.18.1) Deadbolt lock(s) installed on exterior doors that otherwise have a non-deadbolt lock.

 

 

 

 

 

(305.6) Doors (interior) properly fit in jamb and are in sound condition.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior walls, floors, ceilings (PMC Ch. 3)

 

 

 

 

  Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(305) Floors, ceilings, stairs and landings are safe and structurally sound.

 

 

 

 

 

(305.3) There is no fungus present that is most likely mold located on walls, ceilings, or floors (large area or multiple areas).

 

 

 

 

 

(305.5, 307.1) Handrails and/or guards for stairs are installed where required and are structurally sound.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(305) Stairs and required handrails and/or guards serving required path of egress are structurally sound, and do not require minor repair and/or maintenance.

 

 

 

 

(305.3) There is no fungus present that is most likely mold located on walls, ceilings, or floors (small area).

 

 

 

 

 

(309) Structure and/or dwelling unit free of insect and/or rodent infestation. (See Sections 309.2 – 309.5 for occupant and owner responsibilities).

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupancy requirements (PMC Ch. 4)

 

 

 

 

  Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(402.2) Minimum illumination/lighting requirements are met in common halls & stairways (other than 1 & 2-family dwellings).

 

 

 

 

 

(404.3) Minimum ceiling height requirement met in habitable rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

(404.2) Minimum habitable room widths (7 ft.) and clear passageway clearance for kitchens (3 ft.) are met.

 

 

 

 

 

(404.7, 502.1) Minimum kitchen, cooking facility and food preparation area requirements are met.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(402.1) Minimum natural light requirements for habitable spaces are met.

 

 

 

 

 

(403) Minimum natural ventilation requirements for habitable spaces are met.

 

 

 

 

 

(404) Minimum area requirements for occupants of habitable areas are met.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

Plumbing/Heating/Electrical (PMC Ch. 4, 5, 6)

 

 

 

 

   Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(403.5) Clothes dryer properly vented to the exterior of the structure.

 

 

 

 

 

(502 and 503) Minimum bathtub or shower, bathroom lavatory, toilet/water closet and kitchen sink requirements are met.

 

 

 

 

 

(502.2) For rooming houses/congregate residences, at least one water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower is provided for each four rooming units.

 

 

 

 

 

(504.1, 504.3) Sanitary sewer line functions (not collapsed or backed up).

 

 

 

 

 

(504.1) Plumbing fixtures are safely connected to a water supply, and required plumbing traps are safely installed.

 

 

 

 

 

(505) Water service line functions properly (not broken, badly leaking or nonfunctioning).

 

 

 

 

 

(505.4) Temperature and pressure relief valve drain pipe on water heater is installed and adequate.

 

 

 

 

 

(505.4) Water heating facilities operate properly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(603.1, 603.2) Gas fired furnace, water heater and clothes dryer properly vented and safely installed (clearances, combustion air, safety controls).

 

 

 

 

(603.1, 603.5, 603.3) Combustion “makeup” air and minimum clearance requirements met for gas furnace and/or water heater.

 

 

 

 

 

(602) Heating facilities provided for habitable spaces are operable, safe, and capable of maintaining 68 degrees in habitable rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

(604) Electric service panel is safe, undamaged by water and has a minimum rating of 60 amperes to serve a dwelling unit.

 

 

 

 

 

(604) Electrical wiring is not exposed, frayed or unsafe as defined by code.

 

 

 

 

 

(605.1) Exterior electrical panel has ports and/or covers in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(504.1) Plumbing fixture drains function (not clogged), and plumbing fixtures or drains do not leak.

 

 

 

 

 

(403.2) Bathroom window is openable, or a bathroom ventilation fan is installed and operable in lieu of an openable window.

 

 

 

 

 

(603.1) Furnace and/or furnace filter is clean and maintained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(605.1) Interior electrical panel has ports and/or covers in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(605.4) Extension cords are not used as a permanent power source.

 

 

 

 

 

(604.3) Receptacles are properly wired and operating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(605.2) Receptacles and/or light switches have cover plates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(605.2) GFCI receptacles installed in wet areas, bathrooms and/or kitchens, and are operable.

 

 

 

 

 

(605.2) Clothes washer receptacle grounded or GFCI protected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Safety (PMC Ch. 7)

 

 

 

 

   Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(701.2) Required emergency exit lights and/or emergency backup lighting for shared/common path of travel is properly maintained and operable.

 

 

 

 

 

(702) A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel is provided from any point in the building to the exterior premise. (no permanent obstruction/s).

 

 

 

 

 

(702, 305) Stairs and required handrails and/or guards serving the required path of egress are present and structurally sound.

 

 

 

 

 

(702.4) Required emergency escape/rescue windows meet the requirements for minimum clear opening area, height and width, and maximum finished sill height above the floor, and are operable from the inside without keys or use of special tools.

 

 

 

 

 

(Proposed amended 702.4.1) For existing structures containing habitable space more than two stories above grade, for which no building permit exists or can be found, the requirements of Section 702.4.1 are met. (This standard is an alternative to potentially having to sprinkler a space, and requires a code amendment).

 

 

 

 

 

(704.2) Less than 50% of the required smoke detectors for the dwelling unit are present and operable (on ceiling or wall outside each separate sleeping area in immediate vicinity of bedrooms, in rooms used for sleeping purposes and on each story within a dwelling unit).

 

 

 

 

(704.1)  One portable fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 1A 10BC, which is less than one year old or has been serviced within one year, is provided in each dwelling unit in buildings with three or more dwelling units.

 

 

 

 

Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(702) A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel is provided from any point in the building to the exterior premise. (no temporary, easily removed obstruction/s).

 

 

 

 

(702, 305) Stairs and required handrails and/or guards serving required path of egress are structurally sound, and not in need of minor repair and/or maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

(704.2) At least 50% of all required smoke detectors for the dwelling unit are present and operable (on ceiling or wall outside each separate sleeping area in immediate vicinity of bedrooms, in rooms used for sleeping purposes and on each story within a dwelling unit).

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior Structure (PMC Ch. 3, Sec. 304)

 

 

 

 

  Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(304) Roof is in sound condition with no holes through roof sheathing, or any large area/s with missing shingles and/or major leaks.

 

 

 

 

(304) There are no defects that affect the structural integrity and safety of foundations, roof framing, or exterior stairs, ceilings, walls, floors, porches, decks and/or balconies.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.11) Chimneys are structurally safe and sound, and do not pose an imminent hazard.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.12, 307.1) Required handrails and/or guards for exterior stairs, porches, decks and/or balconies are structurally sound.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minor Items:

 

 

 

 

(304) Roof is in sound condition with no small areas of damaged or missing roof shingles, or minor roof leaks.

 

 

 

 

 

(304) Exterior surfaces (siding, brick, stone, etc.) and door and window frames are structurally sound (no large areas of missing siding, collapsing brick/stone, or large areas of wood rot and/or holes in window and/or door frames.

 

 

 

 

(304.2) Exterior wood surfaces, other than decay-resistant woods, are protected from the elements and decay by painting or other protective covering or treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.7) Exterior storm drainage diverts water away from foundation of structure.

 

 

 

 

 

(304.11) Chimneys are maintained in good repair (do not require minor tuck-pointing, minor repair to chimney cap, or other minor repairs).

 

 

 

 

(304.12, 307.1) Required handrails and guards for stairs, porches, decks and/or balconies are structurally sound, and are not in need of some minor repair.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior Yard Areas (PMC Ch. 3)

 

 

 

 

  Major Items:

 

 

 

 

(302.10) There is no substantial accumulation of improperly contained garbage.

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Minor items:

 

 

 

 

(302.7) Accessory structure/s including detached garages, walls and fences, are structurally sound and in good repair.

 

 

 

 

 

(302.8) There are no inoperative motor vehicle/s kept or stored outside, and/or there are no vehicle/s kept or stored outside in a major state of disassembly.

 

 

 

 

 

(302.10) There is no outside accumulation of old lumber, wire, metal, tires, concrete, masonry, auto parts, stoves, refrigerators, TVs, sinks, rubbish, refuse, junk, minor amount of garbage or the like.

 

 

 

 

(302.12) There is no upholstered furniture in exterior yard areas or on unenclosed porches, decks or balconies (unless rated for outdoor use).

 

 

 

 

 

(302.13) There are no dead or substantially dead trees, or dead or damaged tree limbs that create a hazardous condition, on the premises (as determined by the Director of Parks & Recreation or designee).

 

 

 

 

 

(308.4) Garbage, rubbish and trash is properly contained and disposed. (See 308.2 and 308.3 for occupant and owner responsibilities).

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Development Code (Ch. 20)

 

 

 

 

Major Items:

 

 

 

 

Occupancy is in compliance with the Land Development Code (Chapter 20).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land use is in compliance with the Land Development Code (Chapter 20).

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

This completed Rental Housing Inspection Checklist shall serve as the Owner’s official Notice of Violation as required by Section 6-1316 of Rental Licensing Ordinance No. 8840.  By this Notice of Violation, you are required to correct the violations noted and have them re-inspected by City staff by [DATE], unless a different compliance date is noted in the right-hand column.  If you are unable to correct noted violations by the compliance date, please contact City staff to discuss the reasons why a reasonable time extension may be warranted.

 

Any Owner/Licensee or Tenant aggrieved by the action of the Code Official in issuing a Notice of Violation shall have the right to appeal that action to the Building Code Board of Appeals in accordance with Section 6-1317 of Ordinance 8840.  Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the Department of Planning and Development Services a Notice of Appeal within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Notice of Violation. The Notice of Appeal shall be in writing and shall set forth in sufficient detail why the Owner/Licensee or Tenant believes that the Notice of Denial or Notice of Violation was issued in error. A $25.00 docketing fee is due and payable at the time a Notice of Appeal is filed.

 

 

Inspector Printed Name: ___________________________ Inspector Signature: _____________________________Date:______________

 

 

Recipient Printed Name: ___________________________ Recipient Signature: _____________________________Date:______________