Building Codes & Habitability — Oregon

Building Codes — Idaho (ID) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Idaho State Building Code based on 2018 IBC/IRC. Habitability statute: Idaho Code §55-2002 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Heating: landlord must provide working heating equipment; no specific minimum temperature by state law. Smoke detectors: required on each floor and outside each sleeping area; landlord installs; battery or hardwired (Idaho Code §39-6603). CO detectors: required in all residential units with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage (Idaho Code §39-6605). Repair-and-deduct: yes — after written notice and landlord failure within 3 days (emergency) or 30 days (non-emergency); cap is $300 or half month's rent. Notable: Boise has a local housing code enforcement program. Idaho preempts local rent control. No state income tax break specifically for rental income.

Building Codes — Montana (MT) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Montana Building Codes Act based on 2018 IBC; enforcement is local. Habitability statute: MCA §70-24-303 (Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Heating: Oct 1 through April 30; landlord must maintain 68°F in all habitable rooms. Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room, outside sleeping areas, and on each floor; landlord installs; battery or hardwired (MCA §50-61-101). CO detectors: required in all residential units with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage (MCA §50-61-102). Repair-and-deduct: yes — after written notice and landlord failure within 14 days; cap is $300 or one month's rent. Notable: Montana preempts local rent control. Billings and Missoula have local housing code enforcement programs. Montana's rental market is tightening rapidly due to population growth; enforcement capacity limited in rural areas.

City Building Codes — Seattle, WA
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) enforces Seattle Building Code and Seattle Housing and Building Maintenance Code (HBMC). Seattle Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO): ALL rental units in Seattle must be registered; periodic physical inspections required (every 4-6 years depending on building type). Annual registration fee per unit. Heating: WA state requirement of 70°F applies; Seattle requires heat available from heat source within the unit (no central boiler serving multiple tenants without individual controls). CO detectors: RCW 43.44.110 requirement applies; SDCI enforces. Seattle Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: requires specific stated reason (from an enumerated list) for eviction. Tenant relocation assistance: landlords must pay 3 months rent as relocation assistance when displacing tenants for demolition, substantial rehabilitation, or change of use. Seattle Multifamily Housing Code: additional requirements for buildings 5+ units including fire sprinkler systems, accessibility, and green building standards (Seattle Green Building Standard requires most new multi-family to meet LEED or equivalent).

Building Codes — Washington (WA) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Washington State Building Code based on 2021 IBC/IRC with WA amendments. Habitability statute: RCW 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act — RLTA). Heating: landlord must provide heating equipment capable of maintaining 70°F in all inhabited rooms during cold weather — 70°F is stricter than IPMC. Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room, on each floor, and outside sleeping areas; landlord installs and maintains; if tenant damages detector landlord may charge for replacement. CO detectors: required in all dwellings with fossil fuel appliances or attached garages (RCW 43.44.110). Repair-and-deduct: yes — after 10-day written notice to landlord; cap of $300 or half month's rent (whichever is greater) per repair incident. Seattle Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO): all rental units in Seattle must be registered; periodic inspections required. Notable: WA bans "no-cause" evictions for most tenancies (just cause required after 20+ days); strong anti-retaliation protections.

Building Codes — Hawaii (HI) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Hawaii State Building Code based on 2018 IBC with local amendments per county. Habitability statute: HRS §521-42 (Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code). Heating: Hawaii's climate makes heating requirements less relevant; landlord must maintain all systems in working order; no cold-weather heating season defined. Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room and on each floor; landlord installs; battery or hardwired (HRS §132-7.5). CO detectors: required in all residential units with fuel-burning appliances (HRS §132-8). Repair-and-deduct: yes — after written notice and landlord failure within reasonable time; cap is $500 or one month's rent. Notable: Hawaii has the highest housing costs per capita of any state; Honolulu has explored rent control. Owner-occupied rentals under 6 units are regulated by county. Each county (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) has its own building permit office and inspection program.

City Building Codes — Denver, CO
Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) enforces Denver Building and Fire Code, based on 2021 IBC/IFC with Denver amendments. Denver Residential Rental License: all residential rental units in Denver require a license from CPD; fee per unit; first-time rental units require inspection. Denver Minimum Housing Standards: incorporates IPMC with Denver additions; specific standards for heating, ventilation, and lighting. Heating: Denver requires 68°F minimum in all habitable rooms (local ordinance). CO detectors: CO Rev. Stat. §38-12-102.5 requirement applies. Denver Just Cause Eviction: adopted 2023 — landlords must state a valid reason from enumerated list for eviction after 12 months of tenancy. Denver Fair Housing: Denver Human Rights and Community Partnerships enforces local fair housing ordinance including source-of-income discrimination prohibition (Section 8 tenants must not be refused). Unique: Denver Short-Term Rental (STR): registration required; limited to primary residence only.

Building Codes — Alabama (AL) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Alabama Building Code based on 2018 IBC; enforcement is by counties and municipalities. Habitability statute: ALA Code §35-9A-204 (Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — URLTA). Heating: landlord must provide working heating equipment; no specific minimum temperature in state law; courts apply 68°F as baseline. Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room and on each floor (ALA Code §24-9-11); landlord installs; battery or hardwired. CO detectors: no statewide requirement as of 2024. Repair-and-deduct: yes — after written notice and 14-day failure; cap is $200 or half month's rent. Notable: Alabama preempts local rent control. Birmingham and Huntsville have local housing codes. Alabama's URLTA was substantially modernized in 2006 and covers most residential tenancies.

Building Codes — Maine (ME) Rental Housing
Adopted code: Maine Building Codes based on 2015 IBC/IRC. Habitability statute: 14 MRS §6021 (warranty of habitability). Heating: Sept 15 through May 15; landlord must maintain 68°F in all habitable rooms (14 MRS §6021). Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room, outside sleeping areas, and on each floor; landlord installs; hardwired with battery backup in new construction; battery in existing (25 MRS §2464). CO detectors: required in all residential units with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage (25 MRS §2464-A). No repair-and-deduct right by statute. Tenant remedy: rent escrow petition or terminate lease after written notice and 14-day failure. Notable: Maine's housing code is part of the implied warranty of habitability statute — a single violation of 14 MRS §6021 can be asserted as a defense to eviction. Portland has enacted local rent control (3% cap) — held valid after 2021 referendum.

Building Codes — New Hampshire (NH) Rental Housing
Adopted code: NH Building Code based on 2009 IBC (amendment cycles slower than most states). Habitability statute: RSA 540-A (landlord's access and duties); RSA 48-A (standards of repair and maintenance for residential buildings). Heating: Oct 1 through May 1; landlord must maintain 65°F in all habitable rooms. Smoke detectors: required in each sleeping room and on each floor; landlord installs; battery or hardwired (RSA 153:10-a). CO detectors: required in all residential units with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage (RSA 153:10-b). No repair-and-deduct right by statute. Tenant remedy: sue in small claims court; local code enforcement. Notable: New Hampshire has relatively minimal residential landlord-tenant statute; reliance on common law. Manchester and Nashua have local housing code enforcement. NH preempts local rent control.

City Building Codes — Washington, DC
DC Department of Buildings (DOB) enforces DC Construction Codes (based on 2018 IBC with DC amendments) and DC Property Maintenance Code. Rental registration: DC Rental Accommodations Division (RAD): ALL rental units must be registered (DC Code §42-3502.05); annual fee per unit. DC Rent Control: Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Code §42-3501 et seq.): applies to most residential units in DC not built after 1975 or owned by small landlords (4 or fewer units owner-occupied); annual increase capped at CPI + 2% (or 10% max); just cause eviction required. DC Basic Business License: required for all rental housing operations. Heating: Oct 15 through May 15; landlord must maintain 68°F. DC Housing Code (14 DCMR): comprehensive minimum standards for all rental housing including structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and occupancy. DC Office of the Tenant Advocate: provides tenant legal assistance and advocates for habitability. Unique: DC requires landlords to offer lease renewal unless grounds for non-renewal exist.