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Buildings & Inspections/Code Enforcement
The Buildings & Inspections Department is here to provide planning, zoning, signage, and inspection services for all businesses and residents of North College Hill.
The Code Enforcement Department is charged with eliminating blight and building safety hazards and promotes building repair and renovation through education and enforcement to protect the public health, safety and quality of life.
Sidewalks represent a major investment by the citizens of North College Hill and are an important part of a balanced transportation system.
Used by all facets of a diverse pedestrian population that ranges from young to old, physically fit to challenged, they connect our homes, neighborhoods, parks, recreational facilities, schools, churches, and businesses. They provide pathways for our elderly and bikeways for our youth.
A safe and aesthetic sidewalk space promotes neighborhood interaction and enhances property values.
Responsibility for constructing and maintaining sidewalk space is shared by property owners and the City.
In cases where the sidewalk space is not properly maintained, Cod. Ord. 539.05 directs that abutting property owners be notified of necessary corrective action. Cod. Ord. 903.06 makes owners of abutting property responsible for funding construction and maintenance relating to sidewalks.
The City Engineer is responsible for supervising sidewalk construction, reconstruction or repair.
Notice To Repair Condemned Sidewalk Or Driveway
When the defective sidewalk is discovered, in a neighborhood inspected for the Sidewalk Safety Program, the abutting property owner will be sent a "Notice of Repair" that identifies the estimated quantity and cost of the required repairs. The property owner is given options to complete the required work within the stated timeframe, or. Once a property has been included in the Sidewalk Safety Program, the only acceptable method to repair condemned concrete is a full-block replacement from joint to joint.
Property owners have the following options when repairing a condemned sidewalk or driveway:
1. Hire a Licensed Contractor.
2. An unlicensed property owner may acquire a permit to replace condemned sidewalk provided the work is performed to City Standards.
3. The City Of North College Hill will remediate the hazardous sidewalk at the owner's request and expense.
If the Sidewalk isn't addressed in the time frame expressed by the Code Enforcement Officer the city will move forward with the remediation, add an additional administration fee and anything that isn't paid according to the date of the notice will be assessed on the property owners property taxes.
Per Codified Ordinance - Section 1359, all owners, agents or person in charge of any residential or commercial building containing dwelling units designed or intended to be used as residential dwellings located within the City of North College Hill, to register, pay a non-refundable rental registration fee and obtain a certification of rental registration annually. As of 5/2020 this has been amended to $150.00 per unit.
Exception: A rental dwelling, in which at least one unit is occupied by the owner of the building, is not required to register.
The purpose of the Vacant Property Registration is to provide better data on the extent and nature of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties, having detailed and reliable contact information for property owners and managers, and reducing the harms and costs such properties pose to neighborhoods and local government by giving city officials the mechanisms to require minimal maintenance and safety standards for these properties and to ensure they meet respective code.