Effective code enforcement enhances the quality of life for residents by:
- Protecting the health and safety of the public
- Preserves property values in the city
- Encourages pride in our community
- Encourages private and public investment in a neighborhood making Wooster a desirable location for residents and businesses to flourish.
The Building Standards Division works collaboratively with Planning and Zoning, Fire Prevention, the Public Properties and Maintenance Division, and the Wooster Police Division to ensure continued high standards for the City and businesses located here.
Compliance Program
The Property Code Compliance Program consists of:
- Complaint Investigations and
- Systematic periodic inspections in targeted areas of the City. These are areas with mostly older legacy housing that have higher maintenance needs.
Generally, complaint-driven inspections result in a violation 80% of the time, while targeted inspections result in a violation about 20% of the time. However, they effectively cover large areas and identify violations that may go unreported. Each type of inspection has advantages and limitations.
Activity
The Division performs over 1,000 Property Maintenance and Zoning Code inspections annually. About 90% of the cases with violations are closed for one of the following reasons.
1. The owner resolved the issue/s or
2. The City abated the violation, meaning the City mowed the grass, removed the garbage and debris from the property, or hired a contractor to perform other work. When this is done, the City will assess the cost of the work to the owner.
3. The case was prosecuted in court, and penalties for non-compliance were imposed.
10% of the time, the violations are open and pending resolution.
Each year, on average, 5 - 10 houses are demolished.
How We Work
Inspectors investigate every complaint received or observed. After verifying a violation, the inspector will attempt to contact the owner and send them a letter notifying them of the code violation. Generally, we deal with owners and not tenants, as it is the owner's responsibility to manage their property.
Inspectors explain the City’s code requirements and the reasons behind them. This educational component helps strengthen partnerships and reduces the number of cases that need to be resolved by legal action. We will work with owners to resolve violations. The case is referred for prosecution if it is not resolved within the prescribed time. Most violations are resolved within a few days, but some situations may take months. Most of the time, a reasonable timeframe can be agreed to as long as a plan is in place. The City’s goal is voluntary compliance, not prosecution and penalties.
