I-TEAM Investigation: Understaffing in Toledos code compliance division [Video]

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Understaffing is causing some major challenges for Toledo’s Department of Building and Code Compliance, according to the department’s Director Jim Molnar.

The department has eight code compliance inspectors who investigate structure concerns on a daily basis. There are two additional inspectors, but one is a court liaison and the other is reserved for special projects.

“It’s a struggle,” Molnar said. “We could definitely use twice as many, if not three times as many, people.”

Molnar’s assessment is backed up by a 2021 report from the Center for Community Conclusion, which concludes that other cities with “successful” code enforcement have far more inspectors than Toledo; Rochester, New York, for example, has 30 code inspectors and San Antonio, Texas has 100, as compared to Toledo’s eight.

It’s a fact city leaders are well aware of.

“Well, you really need three to six times as many compliance officers,” Toledo City Council Member Theresa Gadus said, during a budget hearing for the department Friday morning. “That’s just something for …