Ithaca residents, tenants and community members can now report building code, property maintenance and habitability concerns through a new online tool connected directly to the city's Building Division.
The city said the tool is meant to make complaints easier to submit and track while giving users more transparency into how and when staff respond.
The online system can be used to report apartment habitability issues, including no heat or warm water, as well as code complaints and exterior property maintenance problems such as bushes growing over sidewalks.
Residents can access the tool through the "Get Help" menu on the City of Ithaca website. Information about housing and property maintenance codes is also available through the Building Division.
Director of Code Enforcement Rob Fell-DeWalt said housing code enforcement is central to maintaining livable conditions.
"When residents report issues, it allows us to identify risks early, hold property owners accountable, and ensure housing meets basic health and safety standards," Fell-DeWalt said.
Acting City Manager Dominick Recckio said the tool reflects the city's commitment to addressing habitability issues and streamlines the reporting process.
Residents do not need legal or technical knowledge to file a complaint, according to the city. Officials said people experiencing unresolved housing or property maintenance problems should use the tool so the city can respond and improve conditions across Ithaca.
More information is available from the Ithaca Building Division at ibd@cityofithaca.org or 607-274-6510.
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