House Bill 595 Summary

• Allows inspection departments to conduct periodic inspections of rental properties when reasonable cause exists, including a history of more than two verified violations within 12 months, complaints of substandard conditions, actual knowledge of unsafe conditions, or visible violations from outside the property.

• Permits local governments to require inspections in designated "blighted" or "potentially blighted" geographic areas, limited to 1 square mile or 5% of the jurisdiction (whichever is greater), with required notice and legislative hearing before implementation.

• Prohibits local governments from requiring rental property permits or registration for most properties, except those with more than two verified violations in a rolling 12-month period, two or more violations in 30 days, or properties in the top 10% with crime or disorder problems.

• Limits special fees on rental property to $500 per 12-month period for properties with verified violations, and allows registration fees only to cover program operating costs for properties meeting violation or crime thresholds.

• Establishes that verified violations must be uncorrected after 21 days' written notice, and allows owners to cure tenant-related violations by filing summary ejectment actions within 30 days.