The City of Gaithersburg is cracking down on illegal occupancy issues by doubling fees for first-time violators of housing occupancy codes and encouraging residents to report neighbors they suspect may be overcrowding a dwelling.
Fees were previously $100 for a first-time overcrowding infraction, and the city’s new budget doubles the first-time fine to $200. Subsequent infractions will cost violators $1,000.
Gaithersburg’s code prohibits five or more unrelated individuals from occupying the same dwelling unit. Additionally, the number of related individuals who may share the same home is limited by the square footage of the unit.
Mayor Sidney Katz said illegal occupancy is one of the most popular topics at community meetings. “Usually whenever we go to one of those meetings, you hear about speeding cars and often about overcrowded homes,” Katz said.
Montgomery County community advocate Grace Rivera-Oven said she believed the policy changes were targeting the poor. “When we’re losing affordable housing, it’s quite hypocritical to pass something like this that targets the most vulnerable of our community,” Rivera-Oven said.
Katz said it’s a safety issue: “If there is an unsafe situation we have to obviously deal with it.”
City officials say an informational video produced by the City Cable Television staff is designed to prevent violations by educating residents about the housing code and occupancy standards. The video is available for Home Owner Associations to show at their meetings.
Neighborhood Services Director Kevin Roman, whose office helps oversee housing code enforcement, said resident complaints about suspected housing violations are on the rise.
Roman said violators tend to be homeowners that have invited their extended family, “cousins, aunts and uncles to move in.” If the property is in violation of city code, the owner is given notice to make the necessary corrections, told the date an inspector will return and if the violation has not been corrected on the second visit, the home owner could be subject to a fine.
Gaithersburg residents can call 301-258-6340 if they have questions about regulations or want to report and overoccupied dwelling in their neighborhood.
