A news release from Yakima City Hall says the City Council will consider adopting the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) at the Council meeting on February 2nd.

 In the interest of what they say is public health and safety, the City’s Codes Division is asking for the change to the IMPC including local amendments.

Yakima County, Union Gap and Selah already use the IPMC which is described as: "The International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) establishes minimum requirements for the maintenance of existing buildings through model code regulations that contain clear and specific property maintenance and property improvement provisions.

 

If the Council approves, the new code would repeal the city's existing codes for Building Conservation, Neighborhood Conservation, Apartment House and Hotel Safety, Vacant Building, Building Security, the 1991 Uniform Housing Code,  the 1991 Uniform Code of the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings.

So why the change?  The News Release puts it this way, " “Some of these codes are redundant and each has unique procedures to follow, as well as differing penalties among them,” said Code Administration Manager Glenn Denman. “The IPMC covers all the issues found in those codes, but has a single procedure and a single penalty structure to follow. The result will be a clearer, simpler code for both city staff and city residents.”

A side by side comparison of what is and what would be is always instructive and is available HERE.

The city has a copy of the proposed ordinance for your review at  IPMC-Ordinance-YMC-11.40-final.pdf (yakimawa.gov)

And finally, the city would like to hear from you, the residents and property owners who would potentially be affected most by the changes.  You can contact city hall Here.

 

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