Rochester Approves Rental Property Inspection Ordinance

After more than seven months of debate — including almost three hours of discussions Monday night — Rochester City Council approved an ordinance that will require the registration and regular inspection of rental properties in the city.

The ordinance passed 4-3. Mayor Jeff Cuthbertson and council members Ben Giovanelli, Steve Sage and Stuart Bikson voted yes; council members Kim Russell, David Becker and David Zemens voted no.

The ordinance will require rental property owners to register their properties with the and complete inspection paperwork when there is a tenant change on the property. There originally would have been a fee for the registrations; under the revised version of the ordinance passed Monday night, there will now be no fee.

About 30 people spoke during the public hearing. Those who commented were a mix of landlords, who said they were offended and felt singled out by the ordinance, and homeowners, who said the ordinance was needed to protect property values.

Pat Kane is a Rochester homeowner who spoke in support of the ordinance. She said there were seven rental properties within a block of her home, and she criticized some of the landlords who had spoken in opposition to the ordinance.

"I don't really often think it's great when people from another city come here and dictate to taxpayers how we are going to live," she said. "This is our backyard. If landlords want to live here and vote here, then they can have a voice."

Robert Bloomingdale is a landlord who lives in Rochester. He has voiced his opposition to the ordinance during seven months' worth of meetings. Monday night's meeting was no exception.

He criticized many who spoke in support of the ordinance.

"It's easy for you to be for something that doesn't affect you," he said.

The ordinance was designed to help ensure the upkeep of property, eliminate blight conditions and ensure the safety of tenants.

Russell said she did not believe the ordinance would help property values. She also criticized members of City Council for rushing into a vote on the ordinance. "You don't just pass something because we've been up here for a long time," she said. "You make it right."

Cuthbertson said it is axiomatic, or self-evident, that inspections will help maintain property. "To deny this common sense is to make a mockery of this discussion," he said.