Youngstown, OH Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Youngstown Codified Ordinances Section 546.03 puts enforcement in the hands of a Code Official appointed by the Mayor, who acts directly or through designees and may adopt rules needed to enforce Chapter 546. The Code Official and any officers, employees or agents charged with enforcement may enter any premises at reasonable times to conduct an exterior inspection. Interior inspection requires the consent of the property owner or occupant; if consent is denied, the inspector cannot enter absent exigent circumstances or an administrative or other warrant.

Rental unit occupants must give the owner or operator access at reasonable times for inspections, maintenance, repairs or alterations needed to comply with the Code, and twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable notice absent evidence otherwise. Once a violation is found, Section 546.06 requires a written Notice of Violation listing the violations, citing the sections breached, ordering remedial action, setting a reasonable compliance deadline, and stating the appeal procedure. Notice must be delivered personally or by regular mail to the responsible party's residence or business, and also posted conspicuously on the affected property.

Under Section 546.09, any recipient of a notice may appeal to the Property Maintenance Appeals Board by filing a written request at the Code Enforcement Department, Youngstown City Hall, 5th Floor, 26 S. Phelps Street, within fifteen days, with a nonrefundable $15.00 deposit or an affidavit of indigency; the Board sets a hearing within 60 days and can affirm, modify, dismiss the order or grant a variance. Violations of Chapter 546 carry administrative penalties of $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third within one year (Section 546.96), plus criminal penalties of up to $500 and 60 days in jail as a third-degree misdemeanor under Section 546.98, with the Code specifically imposing strict liability.