A disorderly house provision has passed its second reading under the public peace section of the Washington City Code. A disorderly house is defined as a place where there are noise violations; use, consumption, or distribution of a controlled substance; gambling violations; alcohol violations for consumption or selling; acts of prostitution; or illegal use of fireworks. The code states that no person, including an owner or renter, shall knowingly keep, maintain, or operate a disorderly house, or knowingly be a landlord of such a place.

City Administrator Brent Hinson explained the measure aims to improve the neighborhoods and give police another tool for habitual offenders, “The focus wasn’t on landlords, the focus was on the behavior that was going on. This doesn’t just apply to landlords, this applies to properties that are problem properties, repeated problem properties through the neighborhoods. So the idea was we wanted to have something to give the police a little bit more, again it’s always in their discretion, there’s certain aspects of law enforcement we need to leave to the officers but we also need to give them the appropriate tools to do their job appropriately. And then also to get the result that we need, the overall that Washington is a nice place to live. You know, I don’t think that any of us think that it’s acceptable to have places that are just constantly, law enforcement is constantly, constantly coming to.” This ordinance applies to all homes, whether rented or owner-occupied.

It was stated at the council meeting that if the issue is with a tenant, the city will first address the problem with the tenant. However if it becomes a habitual disorderly house then the city will contact both the landlord and the tenant by certified mail or served letters. If there are repeat violations then a property owner or tenant may receive a municipal infraction and may be deemed guilty of a simple misdemeanor. The ordinance will have a third reading before it can be adopted.