Richmond city commissioners amended a building code and approved an ordinance to protect residents who suffered damages from Hurricane Harvey from contractor scams during a special meeting Tuesday.

“We are concerned that our residents be protected…as they seek to repair the damage that was done by the hurricane and the recent Brazos River flood,” City Attorney Gary Smith said.

The ordinance will require contractors to register with the city and provide insurance and contact information. The ordinance will not require any fees for contractors, and does not apply to any work done by churches, volunteer groups, families and other help organizations.

“We have always heard stories and want to avoid those stories of contractors coming in and not living up to what they promised to do after the residents hired them to do it,” Smith said. “Our goal is to capture anybody in the business doing that kind of work.”

Commissioners also approved an order to waive building permit and inspection fees for repairs to properties damaged in the hurricane events. The city implemented the same order after the flooding events last May, City Manager Terri Vela said.

“We’ve been working on recovery,” Richmond Mayor Evalyn Moore said at the start of the meeting. “And I am really proud of the way our city and residents conducted themselves during this difficult time.”