Chesapeake's Rental Inspections: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles rental inspections a little differently. In Chesapeake, Virginia, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Tenant Complaint Process

Chesapeake polices rental housing conditions by mapping specific census-tract rental inspection districts, not by fielding one-off tenant complaints: the director of development and permits periodically inspects every leased dwelling inside those districts, and any violation affecting safe, decent and sanitary living triggers mandatory follow-up inspections under City Code Sec. 14-115 and Sec. 14-116 until the unit is brought back into compliance and a certificate of approval is issued.

Key details: Enforcing agency: Director of Development and Permits. Inspection cycle: Annual periodic inspection in mapped districts. Multifamily sampling: 10% of units, up to 10, initially. Clean-inspection certificate: 4-year certificate of exemption. Post-violation certificate: 1-year certificate of approval.

Renting or leasing a dwelling in a rental inspection district that fails to comply with this division is unlawful under Sec. 14-120(a), and willfully ignoring the division or the Uniform Statewide Building Code is punishable the way Sec. 14-86(d) punishes maintenance-code violations: a Class 1 misdemeanor, or, at the department's election, a civil ticket of $100.00 for a first offense and $150.00 for each later offense. The director may enter a unit for inspection at reasonable times with reasonable prior notice.

Inspection Programs

Inside Chesapeake's designated rental inspection districts, every rented dwelling unit gets a periodic safety inspection from the director of development and permits under City Code Sec. 14-115, and a violation-free unit earns a four-year exemption certificate. Multi-family complexes start with a 10 percent, up to ten-unit, sample inspection instead of a full sweep.

Key details: Inspection cycle: Annual, within designated districts. Clean-inspection reward: 4-year exemption certificate. Multi-family initial sample: 10% of units, or 10 max. Post-sale trigger: Inspection within 30 days. New construction exemption: 4 years from certificate of occupancy.

If a periodic or follow-up inspection under Sec. 14-115/14-116 turns up a violation affecting safe, decent and sanitary living conditions, the director keeps ordering follow-up inspections, and no certificate of approval issues, until the owner corrects it; the property loses its four-year exemption and drops back into the annual inspection cycle once the one-year certificate of approval expires.

The Bottom Line

Chesapeake's rental inspections rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Chesapeake is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Chesapeake can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.