MANSFIELD — David Falquette said he doesn’t need a lot more information about the city’s proposal to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code.
The issue was only discussed during a City Council zoning committee meeting Tuesday evening and a vote isn’t scheduled until June 3.
But Falquette, an At-large council member, quickly expressed his support for the plan, a set of regulations developed to establish minimum standards for the maintenance of existing residential and also commercial buildings.
“I like these international codes because there’s a group of professionals, builders and inspectors and all kinds of people that are generally make up these boards,” Falquette said after a presentation by Adrian Ackerman, the city’s community development and housing director.
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He said having a code that more closely matches other cities and states could be beneficial when working with non-local developers who are knowledgeable about Mansfield’s “own personal rules.”
“This takes a lot of that away. I think this is a good way to go,” Falquette said. “I am glad you are doing it. I guess I am positive for it.”
Ackerman told local lawmakers that adopting the IPMC “has been a priority of mine for awhile.”
“We severely need some updates to our maintenance code,” she said, adding the bulk of the existing ordinances were created in the 1970s.
“In my opinion, this is a step in the right direction. It may not be everything we need long-term, but it gives us some more provisions to try and assist with some of the preservation of our housing stock and prevent deterioration,” she said.
After handing each lawmaker a copy of the current regulations, she said the primary purpose of the IPMC is to ensure both residential and commercial buildings are safe, sanitary and in good repair.
“It’s basic requirements (are) for sanitation, safety, structural integrity (and) to prevent building deterioration,” Ackerman said.
“We ve gotten really good as a community at reactive revitalization and demolishing buildings. But this is a tool to help us be a little more proactive and prevent those situations, and enhance community appearance,” Ackerman said.
“Ideally, we’ll be able to start identifying issues before there are serious concerns,” she said. ‘Hey, we noticed you’re missing some shingles on your roof. That’s going to be a problem long term.’
“We will be able to document it and follow back up in six months or a year to see if it was taken care of,” Ackerman said.
“The thing about code enforcement is a lot of times these (property) owners don’t even realize there is an issue with their home,” she said.
The IPMC is typically adopted by local governments to regulate the condition of properties, promoting the health, safety, and well-being of residents. The code covers various aspects of property maintenance, including:
- Structural Integrity – Ensuring buildings are safe and stable.
- Sanitation – Requirements for waste management, water supply, and pest control.
- Lighting and Ventilation – Standards for natural light, ventilation, and electrical systems.
- Exteriors and Grounds – Maintenance of building exteriors, including roofing, walls, windows, and doors, as well as the surrounding grounds, including landscaping and drainage.
- Fire Safety – Measures for fire prevention, such as safe egress, fire alarms, and fire-resistant materials.
The IMPC, created in 1998, has not been applied statewide, though it has been implemented in several states, including Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as many local governments in 31 other states. It’s updated every three years.
Other cities and communities in Ohio have adopted the IMPC or similar codes, including metros like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron and Toledo, as well as smaller cities such as Canton, Salem and Oregon.
The IPMC would be added to the city’s codified ordinances as its own chapter. Ackerman said none of the current regulations would be changed at the moment.
“We’re going to leave those provisions on the books just to make sure we don’t have anything that we’re missing in (the IPMC),” she said.
She said the code also spells out requirements for tenants renting properties.
“In this code (for example), it specifically says occupants have to appropriately dispose of garbage. That means a tenant can be held responsible legally for not doing that, which is an issue that I think we all know that we come across,” she said.
No council members expressed opposition to the IPMC.
The proposal is scheduled for a first read on May 7 and a second read on May 20. A vote on the proposal is scheduled June 3.