Rental property registration ordinance
Summary
The borough is weighing whether to require landlords to register rental properties with an annual fee, like neighboring municipalities do. Council is split — some see it as helping code enforcement and police, others see it as an unfair fee on taxpaying landlords. A narrower short-term rental ordinance may be the path forward.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Nov 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
A third-party program carries a $3,000 annual fee, so the borough would need enough registered rentals to break even on whatever resident fee it sets — it's a cost offset, not a moneymaker.
Code enforcement and police would gain a tool to identify and track problem rental properties.
Landlords who own and pay taxes on their properties could face a new annual fee and inspections.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Planning Commission - Nov 9, 2026
Baldwin's zoning ordinance is being revised, and the commission was scheduled to begin its final review. The ordinance sets the rules for what can be built where in the borough, so changes could affect property owners, builders, and future development.
Borough Council - Jul 14, 2026
Council is still weighing a rental registration program. Police found just one short-term rental incident in 2025-2026; a Dormont ordinance example comes next week, with Council members split on whether it's worth doing.
Borough Council - Jun 9, 2026
The borough is weighing whether to require landlords to register rental properties with an annual fee, like neighboring municipalities do. Council is split — some see it as helping code enforcement and police, others see it as an unfair fee on taxpaying landlords. A narrower short-term rental ordinance may be the path forward.
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