The City of Orlando adopted its Minimum Standards Code (Chapter 30A of the Orlando City Code) in 1988, and its code enforcement activity has been guided by this Code since that time.  The minimum standards codes apply to all property within the city, and as the title suggests, sets forth minimum property maintenance standards by which such property must be maintained.  This includes minimum housing, commercial, and vacant lot maintenance standards.  Enforcement processes are further described in Chapter 5 of the Orlando City Code, which establishes the Code Enforcement Board and the Uniform Code Citation process.

The International Code Council (ICC) provides the model codes for the Florida Building Code, and for most building construction standards in the United States.  In the early 2000s, the ICC began work on the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and published its first model code in 2003.  Over time, some jurisdictions in Florida around the country have adopted the IPMC in its entirety or with amendments.  The differences between the existing Minimum Standards Code and the IPMC are not significant from a practical standpoint.  However, the IMPC does represent a significant improvement as to how it is organized and in how it is coordinated with the Florida Building Code.  The IPMC also reflects almost 30 years of updates and evolution in construction, maintenance, and legal standards.

Staff recommends adoption of the IPMC with amendments as detailed in the attachments.  These amendments reflect our unique experience in Orlando, maintain our notice, hearing, and appeals processes; and incorporate legal precedent from our over 30 years of history enforcing our minimum property maintenance standards.  Through the ICC, the IPMC is updated every three years, as is done with the Florida Building Code.  This will provide a more routine review and future update if Council deems appropriate.

Adoption of the IPMC also affords us the opportunity to address our sometimes unclear code references.  Chapter 30A will effectively be deleted in its entirety and a "new" Chapter 14 containing the IPMC with amendments will be adopted.  The timing of these proposed changes coincides with the launch of our new code enforcement software platform which is part of the final phase of the new Economic Development Information System (EDIS).   Staff also proposes a "sunrise" provision, making the effective date of the new property maintenance codes January 1, 2019.

The IPMC can be viewed at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IPMC2018