Charleston operates a rental property inspection and registration program under Chapter 20 (Housing) requiring landlords to register units, pay an annual fee, and pass periodic inspections to ensure habitability and code compliance.
Under Charleston Code Chapter 20 Housing, residential rental properties must be registered with the city and inspected periodically by the Building Commission or Code Enforcement. Registration captures owner contact information, unit count, and emergency response details. Inspectors verify smoke alarms, egress, heating systems, electrical safety, structural integrity, and absence of pest or mold hazards. Failures must be cured within stated timeframes, and uncorrected violations can lead to a property being declared unfit for human habitation. Charleston Code Enforcement also coordinates with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department for sanitation issues.
Failure to register or correct cited violations can result in fines, daily penalties, condemnation of the unit, and in serious cases criminal misdemeanor charges under Chapter 22.
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