Upcoming Adoption of International Property Maintenance Code
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM, the Austin City Council will begin discussing proposed amendments to the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) in an initial public hearing. This marks the beginning of a process that will include two additional hearings before the City Council potentially approves these amendments.
The IPMC is a critical set of regulations that the City of Austin uses to ensure that rental properties are safe and well-maintained. The standards are used by cities to ensure rental properties are safe, habitable, and well-maintained. It covers a wide range of issues, from the temperature in rental units to procedures for handling pest infestations. The IPMC is particularly important for Austin's Repeat Offender Program (ROP), which requires landlords whose properties repeatedly violate maintenance standards to register with the city and pay fines.
In response to months of public engagement and advocacy, the City Council will consider various amendments to the IPMC. While the city’s proposed changes are designed to improve tenant safety and property conditions, Austin Apartment Association (AAA) has been working diligently to ensure that these changes don’t place unreasonable burdens on property owners.
In June 2024, AAA submitted feedback on the proposed amendments, collaborating with the Austin Code Department to better understand their goals and suggest ways to improve the process. While some of our recommendations were incorporated, there is still work to be done.
AAA has focused on advocating for policies that strike a balance between protecting tenant safety and making sure property owners can reasonably comply with regulations. One key proposal is that enforcement actions should only be taken if tenants report a problem, and the landlord fails to address it within a reasonable timeframe. This approach would ensure that landlords aren’t penalized for issues they were unaware of or hadn’t been given a fair opportunity to fix.
Another proposal is the creation of a clear, standardized document, like what the City of Dallas uses, outlining the specific code violations that inspectors will be looking for. This would help remove subjectivity from the inspection process and provide both property owners and tenants with clear guidelines to follow.
AAA is also advocating for compliance timelines that align with state regulations, ensuring that property owners, especially those who acquire properties later in the process, have a reasonable window to address violations without facing unnecessary penalties.
By advocating for more balanced, sensible amendments, AAA is working to protect the interests of property owners while ensuring Austin remains a safe and habitable city for tenants. The property maintenance code affects all properties, so staying informed and involved in the discussion is crucial.
The public hearing on March 27th is the first in a series of discussions. There will be two more hearings where property owners and managers can make their voice heard. AAA will continue to engage with city staff and council members to ensure the expertise of our members is heard throughout this process.
We encourage all property owners to attend the hearing or submit comments to share their views. It’s important that the voices of property owners are part of the conversation to ensure that any changes to the IPMC are fair and practical.
If you share testimony or comments, let your council members know you support the Austin Apartment Associations’ recommendations, and support regulations that will standardize and streamline the property maintenance code.