Inspectional Services City of Worcester Department of Inspectional Services Amanda Wilson, Lee Hall & Phil Salmon

Inspectional Services Our mission is to provide this community with building, housing and sanitary inspections to include approved permitted documentation through exemplary customer service. These various functions are performed by trained/certified employees with specialized expertise utilizing current technology.

Divisions Building and Zoning Building construction permits Gas/Plumbing permits Electrical permits Zoning Regulatory Inspections Enforcement

Divisions cont. Housing and Health Inspections Housing/Nuisance Enforcement Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Food Protection Program Air, Water and Hazardous Materials Weights and Measures Enforcement

DIS Overview 26 field Inspectors More than 34,000 Inspections 14 Housing/Lead Inspectors 1 Social Worker More than 34,000 Inspections More than 12,000 Permits

Are you the Board of Health? NO!.........But We perform the public health regulatory inspections, such as restaurant inspections, water testing, lead paint inspections

Housing Enforcement Laws 105 CMR 410.000 STATE SANITARY CODE Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation Local Ordinances Unregistered vehicles OCC Nuisance Graffiti Clothing Donation Boxes Foreclosure -Public Health Regulations I-XVIII Transporting offensive substances Non permanent chemical toilets

Authority No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling unit for the purposes of living, cooking, sleeping and eating which do not comply with CMR 105 410.000

Authority To protect the health, safety and well being of the occupants of housing and of the general public, to facilitate the use of legal remedies available to occupants of substandard housing and to provide a method of notifying interested parties of violations of conditions which require immediate attention. In order to properly carry the responsibilities inspectors are authorized to enter, examine, or survey at any reasonable time such place as they consider necessary to conduct such examination or survey If any owner or occupant or other person refuses, impedes, inhibits, interferes with, restricts or obstructs entry and free access to every part of the structure, operation or premise where inspection is authorized is sought the inspector may seek a an administrative search warrant or revoke or suspend any license or permit regulation under the Sanitary Code

What do we look for? Exterior Conditions Structural Conditions Trash, overgrowth of vegetation Unregistered vehicles Posting of the owner’s contact information Structural Conditions Roof, soffit, eaves Siding, railings, stairs, decking Locks, lighting Windows, screens Is there a condition where someone can get injured at the property?

What do we look for? Interior Conditions Fire protection-smoke detectors, carbon monoxides Heat, hot water, potable water, electricity, gas Kitchens- stoves, sinks, cabinets, counter tops, flooring Bathrooms-sinks, toilets, tubs, mold Pest infestation Floor, doors, ceilings, walls

Interior Conditions cont. Light fixtures, outlets Egress obstruction Trash barrels Are there enough for the occupant until final collection? Basement Asbestos Cross metering of electricity Curtailment of utilities

Deferred Maintenance foundation deck Home extermination for rats (didn’t work)

Enforcement Order I've been issued an order from your office, now what? Immediately make any emergency repairs needed and contact the inspector Contact the tenant Obtain the proper permits needed Contact the inspector! The tenant isn't paying the rent, I don’t want to fix the problem. It doesn’t matter. Sorry! Did we say communicate with the inspector?

Deferred Maintenance Water leak Furnace Missing outlet cover Missing smoke detector

How can I avoid an Enforcement Order? Be Present – know what is going on at your property, the only way you can do that is to be there Be a good neighbor Communicate with your tenants Respond to your tenants

Housing Court So you didn’t comply with the order and now you have to go court….. Do I need an attorney? If you own the property in an LLC – YES Preliminary Injunction Contempt

Lead Paint Letters of Compliance How do I know if my house has one? www.webapps.ehs.state.ma.us/leadsafehomes/ Post Compliance Assessment Determination PCAD – what is it?

Lead Paint cont. An order to correct a lead paint violation, now what?

  Contact Information 25 Meade Street, Worcester Ma 01610 508-799-1198 main number 508-799-8544 facsimile Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Inspections@worcesterma.gov  

Customer Service 508-929-1300 24/7 reporting for non emergency issues In case of an emergency dial 911

508-929-1300 Customer Service 24/7 reporting for non emergency issues In case of an emergency dial 911