Rooming House Ordinance
1. Zoning Enforcement
The Growth Management Department (GMD) responds to calls concerning whether a home is being used as a rooming house. The GMD inspector will visit the home and investigate the complaint, determine if the home is in one of the "prohibited" zoning districts (R-1, R-2, RP-1 and RP-2), determine if the home is registered as a nonconforming rooming house, if in one of the zoning districts, and initiate appropriate zoning enforcement action, as necessary. For more information or to report a potential rooming house violation, one may call 891-7050 .
2. Rooming House Registration
Although the registration period ended on June 1, 2001, the Growth Management Department maintains the list of homes that were properly registered by that date. The Department staff can determine if a home has been registered as a rooming house if it is in one of the four zoning districts where such homes are prohibited. You may call 891-7100 for this information.
3. Rezoning of Properties
The Planning Department answers questions pertaining to the rezoning of properties relative to rooming house issues, specifically which districts will allow or prohibit rooming houses, and processes the rezoning applications, when filed. If a property is rezoned from a zoning district allowing rooming houses to a zoning district that does not permit rooming houses, the Planning Department is responsible for notifying property owners whose zoning changed that they have 30 days from the date the rezoning was approved by the City Commission to register an existing rooming house with the Growth Management Department. Phone 891-8600 . Lead staff: Jean Gregory, Wayne Tedder, and Darrin Taylor.
4. Code Enforcement
The Neighborhood Preservation Division enforces the City's codes that relate to property maintenance issues. Examples of the type of codes that fall under this division's jurisdiction are Offensive Accumulation & Overgrowth (high weeds and grass and trash/debris), Abandoned and Non-Operating Vehicles, and Substandard or Dangerous Housing conditions. The division's role as it directly relates to the Rooming House Ordinance, has City Code Enforcement Officers inspect for "care of premises" occurrences especially in the aftermath of partying taking place at problem locations. To report problems where we can assist, please call 891-6500 , Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or leave a message on the Code Enforcement Hotline number which is 891-CODE (2633) .
5. Law Enforcement Operations
The enhanced enforcement operation coordinates efforts between the Police Department and Neighborhood and Community Services with the primary responsibility assumed by the Party Patrol. The Party Patrol is a team of officers specifically designated to target complaints associated with party nuisance, crime and safety issues. Their strategies include:
- Aggressive enforcement of the laws relative to noise violations. Officers encountering obvious violations of the noise laws will take enforcement action upon the first visit, without the need for an initial warning to the violator.
- A visit by a police and code enforcement officers to all problem properties the following morning to insure code violations have been corrected, e.g., parking issues, removal of litter and debris, etc., and to insure the tenants/ property owners are informed of the intent to intensify and strictly and severely enforce future violations of statutes.
- Rental property owners are advised of police and code actions taken against their tenants and/or guests.
- Officers/patrols have at hand information relative to the number of visits, regardless of enforcement action or lack there of, taken on previous occasions, and;
- In the absence of the Party Patrol Squad, increase the level of pro-active enforcement by zone officers.
- Officers are required to indicate via radio disposition codes when they answer a call at a rooming house that may be a violation. Our Communications section forwards that information to Code Enforcement and Growth Management.
For party patrol information or assistance, please call Sgt. Gary Steinberg at 891-4725 in the Alpha District; Sgt. Rhonda Scott at 891-4502 in the Bravo District, or Sgt. James Martinez at 891-4231 in the Charlie District. To identify the geographic area of the districts, please visit the TPD Operations site or call 891-4200.