City staff briefs Housing Committee on Chapter 27 revisions, progress

An overflow crowd attended the Housing Committee briefing on March 21 to discuss potential Chapter 27 amendments. The briefing was presented to resolve issues from the Jan. 19 briefing, summarize new comments gathered during recent public meetings and get direction from Committee members for future action.

The City and various stakeholders have collaborated for the past two years to review and suggest changes to Chapter 27, which establishes minimum property standards to ensure that buildings, structures, and premises are safe, sanitary and fit for human use and habitation. City staff summarized new comments from stakeholders Dallas Area Interfaith, Texas Tenant’s Union and Apartment Association of Greater Dallas.

The proposed amendments address healthy housing standards, clarify and strengthen maintenance and repair standards, revamp the registration program for single family rentals and initiate an inspection program, reexamine the maximum indoor temperature when air conditioning is provided, and authorize the director of code compliance to create a risk-based inspection program for multi-tenant properties to reward good landlords.

The Committee identified suggested amendments from stakeholders that they wanted staff to incorporate into the draft ordinance and also directed staff to provide concerns on the suggested amendments. City staff will present this additional information to the Committee at their April 18 meeting.