Pittsburgh City Councilman Alan Hertzberg plans to introduce a proposed law Wednesday requiring landlords to re-apply for occupancy permits every 10 years, and require building inspections before permits are issued. “This is about addressing the deterioration of city neighborhoods caused by bad landlords who don’t keep their properties up,” Hertzberg said Monday. “Pittsburgh needs a 21st century plan to make sure that electrical wiring, plumbing and other building components are safe for workers, residents and their neighbors.” The city does not require periodic reviews for compliance with building codes. Occupancy permits are valid until zoning is changed or major renovations or additions are made to a property. Inspections would take place in one council district each year on a revolving basis. There are nine districts. Occupancy permits are not needed for single-family homes or side-by-side duplexes, according to Ron Graziano, head of the city’s Bureau of Building Inspection. There are about 69,000 apartments in the city. Graziano said he would need significantly more inspectors to handle the greater workload. “We certainly don’t have the manpower to do more now,” said Graziano, who oversees 20 senior inspectors, two inspectors who review air conditioning and heating systems, and seven electrical inspectors. Hertzberg said the fees charged for city services are supposed to offset the cost of doing the work. An occupancy permit costs $40, and there is a $10 filing fee. The fine for operating without an occupancy permit is up to $1,000 a day, Graziano said. Graziano also questioned whether the city can legally cancel the occupancy permits that already have been issued. City Solicitor Jacqueline Morrow said the city probably would be allowed to impose time limits on new occupancy permits, but not on those that have already been issued. “We could probably change it for anybody going forward,” she said. “But I’m not sure what we could do with those that already have one. That’s something we would have to take a closer look at.” John Auchiello, executive of the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, said it is unclear whether a new law would necessarily address Hertzberg’s concerns about poorly maintained properties. “This appears to single out multifamily units and does not include single-family rental properties,” said Auchiello, who will send representatives to public hearings on the proposed law. “I’m not disputing that there is an issue. But I’m concerned that it might place an unfair burden on property owners who may not necessarily be the problem.”

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