ORANGE : City Expands Push on Housing Codes

With its bid to limit occupancy on hold, the city moved this week to standardize its housing inspections and offer free training to property owners and managers.

The programs will be “added to the arsenal of tools to comprehensively attack overcrowding in neighborhoods,” said Jack McGee, director of community development.

The training program will be offered to managers and owners through the Apartment Assn. of Orange County. Attendance will be mandatory for those found to have violated city codes.

The training program will cover such subjects as safety and security, maintenance, management skills and the role of the owner or manager.

City officials may inspect property after receiving a complaint or when they notice violations during the “normal performance of other duties.”

The council last month gave initial approval to an ordinance that would allow no more than two people per bedroom, plus one additional occupant; no more than one person per 120 square feet of living space, or seven people per bathroom.

The city postponed final approval when a more lenient Santa Ana ordinance that would have limited occupancy to no more than five people per bedroom was struck down in the 4th District State Court of Appeal.