The changes include a slight fee increase by apartment complexes for inspections and the addition of a multifamily inspector position.
Other additions, according to the council agenda, include:
- Multifamily complexes must have a multifamily complex license to be renewed annually.
- Multifamily complexes must demonstrate compliance of all fire protection systems, backflow devices, and current certificates of occupancy prior to the issuance of the multifamily complex license, thus creating a one-stop shop approach for multifamily complex owners and property managers.
- The implementation of a fee change to cover the cost of running annual and complaint-based multifamily inspections, allowing the program to better promote and protect the health and safety of Lewisville’s multifamily tenants while still being consistent with multifamily inspection fees in surrounding cities.
- Adding a waiver of the multifamily complex license fee for complexes less than three years old from the date of their original final building inspection.
The code will take effect 60 days after it is published by the city.
The current inspection fees are $50 per building and $75 per inspected unit. The newly proposed fee is $12 per dwelling unit, said Chris McGinn, director of Neighborhood & Inspection Services. The new inspection goal is 5% of dwellings at a complex.
It is projected the new fees will average out to an additional $3.55 per dwelling unit per year, McGinn said. It will reduce inspection fees for some smaller apartment complexes with multiple buildings, which means about 20% of complexes will have a decreased fee.
The multifamily inspection program began in 2004 in Lewisville and was assigned to a single inspector within the fire and prevention division, according to the June 6 agenda. In 2019, the program moved to code enforcement. Currently, the multifamily inspection program has two full-time inspectors and is supervised by the chief code enforcement officer.
In the 18 years it has existed, the program has not seen a fee increase until now. It is projected the program will cost $330,000 to operate, and it will bring in $295,000 in revenue for fiscal year 2022-23, according to the city.
Lewisville currently has 25,932 dwelling units across 94 apartment complexes, according to the city. It can be estimated that 64,830 of Lewisville residents live in apartments, comprising roughly 51% of the city’s population.
The goal of the program is to maintain the health and safety of apartment residents in the city, Mayor TJ Gilmore said.
Gilmore has heard too many stories where people did not report issues at their complexes in fear they would lose their housing, he said.
“Our number one goal here is health and safety,” he said.
Some messaging from outside city staff was sent to apartment residents that caused concern on the impact it may have on rent and fees. During the meeting, several council members voiced concerns on the “misinformation” that was shared with residents to discredit the program.
“We want to create a level playing field so that we make sure all of our apartment complexes are safe for everyone,” Council Member Brandon Jones said.
