Minneapolis changes its building inspection program

The Minneapolis City Council approved a series of changes to the city's housing inspections program during its Friday meeting. The changes will consolidate oversight of housing inspections under the city's regulatory services department.

Since 2005, those duties were split between the fire department and regulatory services. But an analysis of that policy found that firefighters needed better training, and recommended that regulatory services assume the administration of all housing inspections.

The new policy does include an opportunity for the fire department to reclaim oversight of the inspections it conducts after passing a management audit process.

The changes in the policy are scheduled to start in January 2011.