Owners of rental residential properties are required to register their properties annually with the City of Storm Lake. Registration can be done at City Hall, from June 1-August 31 each year.
Owners of a new rental property should register prior to occupation of the property. Any residential units that are not owner-occupied are considered rentals.
The registration allows for regular inspections of properties to be scheduled by city staff, to ensure that standards are met for the safety of the tenants and to assist owners in ensuring that their properties remain in proper condition. Inspections also allow for testing of smoke alarms to confirm that they are in working order.
The City of Storm Lake instituted a rental inspection program in 1999 to provide a consistent, even-handed process to verify safe and quality housing in the community. Rental properties are inspected on a rotating schedule with all units inspected every three to five years, or when warranted by complaint.