Lansford Borough Council moved its rental license application and inspection process back in-house in 2025, relying on its borough staff and code enforcement personnel to enforce.

The borough tried outsourcing its rental license process in 2024 with ARRO Engineering taking over.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines reported these rental statics at last week’s council meeting, which listed 1,147 potential rental properties, 442 of those properties reported as not a rental, and 336 registrations processed.

Three hundred sixty-three properties failed to register under the program last year.

The borough is working on amendments to the rental property ordinance, and council tabled action on rescinded or waiving a section requiring proof of paid taxes and utility bills or fees pending those changes last week.

Council did approve a new rental renewal package for 2025, which includes a notice regarding past due violations related to 2024 rental license.

Council President Bruce Markovich said that 2025 renewal includes a late fee for those who did not obtain a 2024 license, and a 2025 license will not be issued with the 2024 rental license.

The 2025 rental registrations distributed at council’s meeting included a notice to property owners that the 2024 rental permit must be renewed.

“For all permits not renewed, a late fee of $30 per month was applied starting June 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024, for each unit,” the notice reads.

“Failure to renew the 2024 rental permit by February 28, 2025, will result in a violation of Lansford Borough regulations and penalties will be imposed,” the notice said.

Councilman Joe Butrie asked what happens if people move into a rental that isn’t licensed, and Yurchak said the owner would be in violation of the ordinance.

“They could be cited under the ordinance and we can also force them to evict their tenant,” the solicitor said.

Council also tabled a motion to require proof of fire insurance, which will also be included in pending changes.