Housing Inspection Information

Inspection Information

General Items for the Entire Unit

  • There needs to be at least one working smoke detector on each level of the unit.
  • Floors cannot have any tripping hazards such as carpet that needs to be tacked down, large holes in the floor covering or missing flooring.
  • Ceilings must not have any large cracks or holes, no severe bulging or large amounts of loose or falling surface area.
  • Walls must not have any large cracks or holes, no severe bulging or large amounts of loose or falling surface area.
  • For security purposes all doors and windows that are accessible from the outside or that open, must have working locks.
  • No chipping or peeling paint anywhere on the inside or outside of the unit (This includes any fences, sheds, eaves, and window sills).
  • There must be handrails on the inside or outside of the unit wherever there are four or more steps, handrails must be secure.
  • Exterior walls and foundation must be in good condition with no large cracks or holes.
  • Plumbing and pipes must be in good condition and connected to an approved sewage disposal system.
  • Water heater must be in working condition with a drain line or discharge pipe coming off of the pressure relief valve to within about 6” of the floor.
  • There must be enough heating equipment so the unit is warm during cold months. Oil and gas space heaters that are not vented to the outside are not acceptable.
  • There must be at least two fire exits (Doors and windows count).
  • Must be a safe neighborhood – no dangerous places, spaces, or things.
  • No large piles of trash, debris, or garbage inside or outside of the unit.
  • No serious pollution inside or outside of the unit such as exhaust fumes or sewer gas.
  • There must not be any signs of infestation such as rats, mice, roaches, spiders, mice droppings, etc.
  • All windows in the unit must be free from signs of severe deterioration. There also must not be any missing, broken, or cracked panes.
  • Roof must be in good condition and must not leak.
  • All outlet and light switch covers must not be missing, broken, or cracked, and must be securely fastened to the wall.
  • There must be a dryer vent cover over the outside dryer vent.
  • There must be a lid over the outside garbage can(s), or both lids must be present on any dumpster.
  • For any sink in the unit there cannot be any leaks coming out of the pipes.
  • All storage units on the unit property must have some kind of working lock.
  • Mobile homes must have tie downs connecting the mobile home unit to the cement pad underneath.

The Living Room

  • There must be at least two working outlets or one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture.
  • There must be at least one window.

The Kitchen

  • There must be at least one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture.
  • Stove or range must have all of the burners working. There must be a working oven. Both the range and oven must have all of the knobs and handles intact.
  • Working refrigerator with a door on the freezer compartment that shuts securely. Refrigerator must have all of the handles and a kick-plate secure and intact.
  • Working sink with hot and cold running water.

The Bathroom

  • There must be at least one permanently installed light fixture.
  • Working toilet in the unit that has some kind of lid or cover over the toilet tank.
  • Permanently installed wash basin with hot and cold running water.
  • Tub or shower with hot and cold running water.
  • Working exhaust vent system or at least one window which will open and lock.

For All Bedrooms

  • There must be at least two working outlets or one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture.
  • At least one window which opens and locks.

For All Other Rooms

  • There must be a means of natural light or there must be something such as a window, a working outlet, or a permanently installed light fixture.
  • Remember, a unit can only be inspected if it is empty or if you (the tenant) are living there.
  • Have an adult at the unit when the inspector comes to inspect.
  • Be aware that the unit must be ready for the inspection, this includes having the utilities turned on in the unit (gas, electricity, and water).

The Pressure Temperature Relief Valve

Water Heater

*The Pressure-Temperature relief valve may be in one
of two places on the hot water heater as shown above.
#1 – on top of the water heater OR
#2 – on the side of the water heater.