Housing Inspection Program Report

At the August 18 Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee meeting, CED Assistant Director Lou Kirk presented an informational report on the City's Housing Inspection Program. The report outlined the program goals and functional objectives, opportunities for community engagement, and next steps to support program success.

Report Summary
San Rafael reports strong momentum in its Periodic Housing Inspection Program, a citywide initiative that proactively inspects multi-family housing every five years to ensure safe and healthy living conditions. The program has expanded significantly in 2026, with 58 cases already addressed and a projected total of 131 by year's end-more than double the number handled in 2024. Unit inspections are also on the rise, with 707 completed so far and an estimated 1,593 expected this year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Inspectors continue to find recurring issues such as deteriorated walls and flooring, structural deficiencies, broken windows, inadequate ventilation, missing smoke detectors, and instances of unpermitted construction that pose serious safety risks. The program focuses on enforcing state and local building and health standards while helping prevent tenant displacement and requiring relocation assistance when major repairs temporarily impact living conditions.

Community feedback highlights the importance of proactive inspections, noting that many renters-particularly low-income residents-are reluctant to report unsafe conditions due to fear of eviction or rent increases. Some property managers only respond to maintenance concerns once a City inspection is scheduled, making the program essential for ensuring equitable access to safe housing.

City staff report that the program's growing inspection volume is beginning to outpace its annual $350,000 funding allocation, prompting discussions about future fee adjustments to maintain long-term sustainability. Next steps include modernizing the HIP ordinance and its associated digital systems, improving access to mold and lead testing, connecting habitability data to anti-displacement efforts, and strengthening resident protections citywide.