Suffolk runs a rental inspection district program. In about 30 named neighborhoods, every residential rental unit needs a city certificate of occupancy after a code-official inspection. A clean unit gets a 48-month certificate; others are inspected annually. Authorized by Va. Code §36-105.1:1.
Chapter 42, Article II of the city code (Ordinance 05-O-031) establishes rental inspection districts under Va. Code §36-105.1:1. The declared districts include Pughsville, Huntersville, Sandy Bottom, South Suffolk, Saratoga, Hollywood, and roughly two dozen more older neighborhoods. An owner of a residential rental dwelling unit in a district must arrange an inspection; if no disqualifying building-code violations are found, the code official issues a 48-month certificate of occupancy, otherwise a 12-month certificate with annual reinspection. No unit may be occupied without a current certificate. Newly built units are exempt for 48 months, and hotels and transient lodging are exempt entirely.
Renting a unit in a district without a current certificate of occupancy, or failing to schedule or allow the required inspection, violates §42-41. The code official may order the unit vacated until it complies with the building code.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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