Landlords who prove that their units are smoke-free will be eligible for several discounts on the $35-per-unit annual fee that pays for Portland’s new housing safety office.

The Portland City Council voted 7-1 Monday, with Councilor Jill Duson opposed, to give landlords who enforce nonsmoking policies a discount of as much as $20 on the annual fee.

The biggest single discount, of $10, is for buildings fully served by sprinklers and for buildings that meet the highest level of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards. A discount of $5 is offered for units that meet a lower set of HUD housing quality standards.

Buildings with centrally monitored fire alarms can be discounted up to $7.50 per unit. Landlords who enforce a smoke-free policy through lease terms can receive a $2.50 discount per unit.

The new policy also stipulates that the fee should not be less than $15 per unit, no matter the discounts for which the units are eligible.

The housing safety office was created to enforce rental property safety ordinances following the death of six young adults in a fire on Noyes Street last November.


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