**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Mableton City Council Passes Safe and Healthy Housing Ordinance
The New Measure Will Help Protect Residents from Unsafe and Deteriorating Living Conditions

MABLETON, GA (Sept. 11, 2025) — The Mableton City Council took an important step with the approval of the Safe and Healthy Housing Ordinance. The council unanimously approved the measure in a 7-0 vote Wednesday night. The ordinance, championed by Mayor Michael Owens, gives the city powerful new tools to hold negligent landlords accountable.

The newly passed ordinance, which was developed in response to growing complaints from residents, particularly along the Riverside Parkway corridor, defines what it means for a rental property to be “fit for human habitation.” It legally mandates that all rental units must be free from mold, infestation, structural hazards, and unsafe utilities.

"Tonight, we are setting a new standard in Mableton," said Mayor Owens. "No child, no family, should be forced to live in moldy, infested, or unsafe housing. This ordinance ensures that we have the legal authority to back our residents and demand better from property owners."

The ordinance's key provisions include:

· Legally enforceable housing standards requiring all rental units to be free from mold, infestation, structural hazards, and unsafe utilities.

· Clear definitions of visible mold and mandated remediation based on EPA and HUD guidelines.

· An implied legal standard of habitability, ensuring all rental units meet minimum safety, health, and sanitation standards.

· Expanded enforcement authority allowing the City of Mableton to cite violations, order corrective action, and, if necessary, conduct emergency remediation and place liens on noncompliant properties.

"The Safe and Healthy Housing Ordinance was designed to be fair to everyone. For landlords who provide decent, habitable housing, nothing changes. The ordinance ensures that tenants have protections from unsafe conditions and from retaliation when they report problems,” said Mayor Owens.  “At the same time, it makes clear that tenants have responsibilities too — under the ordinance they must not damage or neglect a property, and under their lease agreements and state law, they have the explicit obligation of paying rent.”

Initial enforcement efforts will focus on high-complaint properties along Riverside Parkway, including Silver Creek Crossing, 575 Apartments, and The Residence at Riverside.

For more information or to report a housing concern, contact the Office of the Mayor – Public Relations at [email protected] or visit https://mableton.gov/office-of-the-mayor.