New fire code to mandate carbon monoxide detectors in existing homes

City prepares to roll out 2024 Topeka Property Maintenance Code

Code enforcement policy shift saves condemned home in Tennessee Town

Code enforcement struggles with unpaid fines totaling over $400,000

City seeks to clarify "repeat offender" definition for property violations

"Ghost properties" drain city maintenance resources

Neighborhood cleanup program removes nearly 70 tons of trash

New fire code to mandate carbon monoxide detectors in existing homes

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city is set to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code, which will retroactively require carbon monoxide detectors in existing residential buildings equipped with fuel-burning appliances. Topeka Fire Chief Chad Longstaff's office explained at a recent Public Health and Safety Committee meeting that the mandate will cover apartments and homes with gas furnaces or water heaters. City Property Maintenance Director John Schardine noted inspectors will enforce the new rule as part of unified city codes, though officials plan an educational campaign and a 90-day grace period following publication before penalizing landlords or homeowners.

City prepares to roll out 2024 Topeka Property Maintenance Code

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city is finalizing its transition to the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, which will be officially rebranded as the Topeka Property Maintenance Code. City Property Maintenance Director John Schardine announced he received the final version of the code and plans to hold roundtable discussions with community groups, including the Shawnee County Landlords Association, before full implementation. The director emphasized that any adopted regulations must be legally defensible and functional for the city, ensuring property owners have access to the rules once they are officially published.

Code enforcement policy shift saves condemned home in Tennessee Town

TOPEKA, Kan. — A recent policy shift in the city's approach to dilapidated properties successfully saved a house in the Tennessee Town neighborhood from demolition. City Property Maintenance Director John Schardine highlighted the case of a first-time homebuyer who unknowingly purchased a property on the city's demolition list but was granted extended time to make repairs rather than facing strict 60-day court deadlines. The owner has since passed framing and plumbing inspections, demonstrating the city's preference for neighborhood rehabilitation over creating vacant lots.

Code enforcement struggles with unpaid fines totaling over $400,000

TOPEKA, Kan. — Despite levying significant fines against repeat property code violators, the city is collecting less than half of the roughly $400,000 in outstanding municipal court judgments. The Public Health and Safety Committee discussed the low collection rate, noting that some LLCs that have not responded to enforcement actions face massive penalties, including a recent $30,000 fine. Chief of Prosecution Kelly Trussell explained the city utilizes the Collection Bureau of Kansas and the state set-off program to recover funds, though the required civil judgment process can be lengthy.

City seeks to clarify "repeat offender" definition for property violations

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Public Health and Safety Committee is working to establish a concrete definition of a "repeat offender" in property maintenance cases to ensure fair application of escalating fines. Chief of Prosecution Kelly Trussell suggested tying the repeat offender status to a specific property location rather than an owner's entire portfolio, which protects large-scale landlords from compound fines for unrelated violations at different addresses. Committee members requested that proposed definitions and timelines be presented in writing at future meetings to better target egregious offenders in multi-family dwellings.

"Ghost properties" drain city maintenance resources

TOPEKA, Kan. — Abandoned "ghost properties" continue to drain city resources as code enforcement crews are forced to repeatedly mow and maintain unkempt lots without owner reimbursement. City Property Maintenance Director John Schardine expressed frustration over delays at Shawnee County regarding pushing these long-vacant properties to tax sales. The director instructed inspectors to identify these properties early in the year to proactively manage the severe weed overgrowth that plagues neighborhoods during the summer months.

Neighborhood cleanup program removes nearly 70 tons of trash

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city's neighborhood cleanup program has successfully removed 69.51 tons of trash across nine Neighborhood Improvement Associations so far this year. Monique Glaudé, director of the Office of Inclusive Communities, reported the figures, clarifying that the city contracts with a local waste contractor to provide dumpsters while neighborhood residents actively collect and dispose of the trash. The program is part of a broader local effort to facilitate community-led property maintenance and cultural change.

EDITOR'S NOTE — Story removed:

• "Code inspections shift to proactive enforcement despite staff shortages" — Removed as too procedural/internal for general public interest. The key statistic (57% staff-observed vs. 43% SeeClickFix) could be folded into another code enforcement story if deemed newsworthy.

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