Pennsylvania City to Revise Rental Inspections on Older Buildings

The city of Erie will revamp its rental inspection ordinance after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to hear the city’s appeal of a ruling that limited the law’s scope.

The Erie Times-News reports the Commonwealth Court in March ruled that the city couldn’t apply the law to buildings older than July 8, 2004, when the city adopted the Uniform Construction Code for building safety.

A landlord sued after the city ruled a stairwell in a 1926 building he wanted to rent out was unsafe. The Commonwealth Court agreed with the landlord who argued the city could use the ordinance to unfairly force renovations of older buildings even if they were safe.

A city attorney says the city will still inspect rental properties and see what it can do to police older buildings under the court rulings.