Model Ordinance on Proactive Rental Inspection

Communities across the country have adopted proactive rental inspection (PRI) programs to increase compliance with laws aimed at maintaining housing standards, improving housing quality, and protecting residents’ health and well-being. PRI programs allow localities to inspect housing units on a regular basis to ensure that they are safe and habitable. By regularly identifying code violations and facilitating speedy repairs, proactive rental inspection programs benefit tenants, property owners, and the entire community.

Inequities in access to safe, stable, affordable housing affect health outcomes in communities across the United States. Poor housing can contribute to a wide array of health problems, including childhood lead poisoning; asthma and respiratory conditions resulting from exposure to mold, pests, and other household allergens; and increased rates of injury and mortality among older people. And due to our country’s history of structural racism and discrimination, these risks are especially acute in communities of color and communities with low income.

ChangeLab Solutions developed this model ordinance to assist localities that wish to preserve affordable housing and advance health equity by establishing a PRI program. This 2023 edition provides localities with optional language and guidance to help them tailor their program to local context, navigate equitable enforcement challenges, and promote cooperative compliance rather than a punitive approach.