Ontario, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Ontario Municipal Code Chapter 17 (Secs. 111), the "Ontario Health and Safety Systematic Inspection Program Ordinance," applies to whatever properties, building types, uses, occupancies or districts the City Council designates by resolution (Sec. 103). Sec. 104 sets the inspection process: routine inspections at a frequency the Council fixes by resolution (Sec. 106), plus inspections that are complaint-based or a follow-up to a prior visit. The City Manager can call on the Fire Chief, Police Chief and other City departments to help enforce the chapter (Sec.

107), and may adopt interpretive rules, including requiring owners to sign, under penalty of perjury, a statement about whether their property is subject to the program (Sec. 108). Sec. 109 gives the City Manager right of entry to inspect at any reasonable time when there is reasonable cause to believe a violation, hazard, unsafe condition or nuisance exists. Owners of covered properties pay a service fee set by Council resolution (Sec. 105); the Department mails a service fee notice, and if payment is not made within 45 days the unpaid fee becomes a lien collectible like property taxes, or the City can sue for the debt plus attorneys' fees (Sec. 110). A late fee doubles the required charge plus 10% annual interest running from the mailing date (Sec. 111(c)).