The city of Victorville recently passed a revised Business License Fee ordinance that now includes an external rental property inspection requirement to help clean up the appearance of the city’s rental properties.

For more than a year, CAA Greater Inland Empire worked closely with Victorville’s staff to help ensure the inspection component would be effective in achieving the city’s goals, and at the same time, reward rental property owners and operators who take good care of their property. On average, members will save several hundreds of dollars per year.

The revised ordinance includes provisions rewarding rental properties that avoid major code violations, allowing for self-inspections and a lower fee to renew the annual business license. Owners of rental properties with major violations during the year will now pay a higher business license renewal fee and a per-unit inspection fee to cover the cost for city-conducted external rental inspections.

“This was another great example of how our government affairs program allows us to ‘be at the table’ early on, which not only protects our members and saves them money, but also helps ensure cities have a good plan in place to achieve their goals,” said Tim Johnson, executive director of CAA Greater Inland Empire. “Members thrive when the cities they operate in are successful, so we always strive for a win-win outcome.”

CAA was praised publicly by Victorville staff during the City Council meeting, stating how helpful and knowledgeable CAA was in assisting them in drafting the rental inspection component.

Ben Lamson and Bob Wilson from Bluestar Properties, CAA members with several properties in Victorville, were also highly involved throughout discussions with the city.