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Practice Tip <br />Relying heavily on penalties to <br />sustain a program may result in <br />an unpredictable funding stream. <br />Sacramento began its PRI program <br />with a focused pilot program. The <br />city anticipated that the cost of the <br />program would be offset by the <br />revenue from fines and penalties.145 <br />However, with the implementation <br />of the pilot program, property <br />owners brought their properties <br />into compliance more quickly than <br />anticipated. As a result, the pilot <br />program assessed significantly fewer <br />penalties and generated less revenue <br />than expected.146 To help ensure that <br />the program could be self-sustaining, <br />Sacramento adopted a different fee <br />schedule when implementing its <br />city-wide program.147 <br />20A Guide to Proactive Rental Inspection Programschangelabsolutions.org <br />Inspection fees: In addition to registration, licensing, or programming fees, some <br />localities assess inspection fees annually (or for each period of a program’s cycle) <br />for units subject to mandatory inspection; others assess inspection fees only when <br />an inspection is to actually take place. Localities with self-certification programs may <br />discount or waive the inspection fee for units that are owner-inspected, although they <br />may charge a separate self-certification fee. <br />Re-inspection fees: Most localities charge a reinspection fee to cover the cost of <br />additional inspections after violations are uncovered during an initial inspection. <br />Targeting these costs to property owners not in compliance can keep fee costs down <br />for landlords who do maintain their properties appropriately. As an incentive for owners <br />to remedy code violations, some localities will only charge this fee on the second or <br />subsequent reinspection, if violations have not been corrected within a specified period <br />after the initial inspection. <br />Other fees: Some localities impose a fee for rescheduling or for missed appointments. <br />Several localities impose penalties for late payment of any of the required fees. Where the <br />locality provides for abatement of code violations, the abatement fee may cover the costs <br />incurred by the locality, including administration and labor. <br />Penalties/Fines for violation: Localities may impose administrative or civil (monetary) <br />penalties for violations of the proactive rental inspection program and property <br />maintenance codes. Localities sometimes impose criminal fines as well.148