[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Re: International property maintenance code

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Thacker, Dave

Dear Lisa and Macon, 
 
The International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) is intended to provide minimum requirements that address public health, safety, and welfare in the use and maintenance of existing structures and premises. It also requires the alteration or repair of existing structures that are not in compliance in order to meet code. 
 
In January 2011, City Council repealed the existing housing code and adopted the 2009 IPMC to ensure rental, residential, and commercial properties all met the minimum life and safety standards established by the code.  The City Council adopted the 2012 IPMC on Oct. 1, 2013, which went into effect on Jan. 31, 2014.  Staff is currently in the early stages of evaluating the 2015 International Code Council family of I-Codes (including the IPMC) for future adoption.  
 
In addition to the application of the IPMC through rental housing inspections, staff also enforces the IPMC on rental, single-family, multi-family, and commercial structures in response to complaints.   Code violations vary and typically
involve issues in the interior of structures.  
 
Staff is also in the midst of a comprehensive analysis of the rental housing licensing program, including an evaluation of the current rental property inspection process.  Quality assurance inspections are also being integrated into the
 current rental licensing inspection process to ensure the IPMC is being properly enforced.
 
Please contact me directly if you have any further questions.
 
Best, 

Dave Thacker
Building Services Manager/Chief Building Official
 
 
From: "Cowles, Macon" <CowlesM at bouldercolorado.gov>
Date: May 4, 2015 at 10:04:49 AM MDT
To: "Morzel, Lisa" <MorzelL at bouldercolorado.gov>
Cc: "Rait, Maureen" <RaitM at bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: Re: International property maintenance code
I am glad that you mentioned this, Lisa. I would like to have a better understanding of the compliance requirement with respect to the IPMC. I have seen enough dilapidated student rentals that I think we may wish to consider whether it is time to make the provisions mandatory and enforceable, rather than being merely reference points for a rental inspection every three years.

 
Macon Cowles
Boulder City Council Member
1726 Mapleton Ave.

Boulder, Colorado 80304
CowlesM at bouldercolorado.gov
(303) 447-3062
(303) 638-6884
 
On May 4, 2015, at 7:22 AM, Morzel, Lisa <MorzelL at bouldercolorado.gov> wrote:
 
I was also wondering if council could receive an update regarding the International Property Maintenance Code. I think the last time it was updated and incorporated into our code was in 2009 and am wondering if it is planned to come back
 to council anytime soon for an update. I also cannot remember whether this code just applied to rentals or what. Could I please get some clarification?

Thanks

Lisa
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