Omaha, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 48, art. II (2026) § 48-201

(a) The city council makes the following findings:
(1) A significant portion of residential rental properties within the city are not being properly maintained as required under this Code. Residential rental properties comprise a disproportionate number of property maintenance cases for the code enforcement section of the planning department. Repeat offenders also comprise a disproportionate number of the cases. Recent cases involving severe violations and resulting vacation orders have illuminated these problems.
(2) Residential rental properties pose unique problems for the enforcement of property maintenance rules. Contributing to these problems are: the transitory nature and inexperience of the tenants; tenant reluctance or fear to complain about housing conditions; lack of attention by non-occupying owners; and difficulties in identifying, and holding accountable, owners or local representatives of owners.
(3) There is an increasing need to properly identify and contact owners and local representatives of owners of residential rental properties in violation of the code. Enrollment of a rental property in the registration program will help the city establish the location of rental properties and rental dwellings, and develop rental inventory information for future planning purposes. This will help the city to gauge fluctuations in the number of rental dwellings over time, which will help plan for its growth or reduction, and manage situations like the foreclosure crisis.
(4) There is also an increasing need for the regular inspection of all residential rental properties, phased in accordance with their history of code violations.
(5) Code violations and deteriorating conditions of residential rental properties are harmful to the health and welfare of the city and its citizens, particularly the occupants of such properties. Such violations and conditions negatively impact the appearance, health, safety, and property tax base of the city.
(6) Said problems may be addressed by the requirement of registration of all residential rental properties. They may also be addressed by the implementation of a regular inspection, phased in accordance with the history of code violations on the property. They may also be addressed by the education of owners and tenants, regarding property maintenance and rental rights and duties.
(7) Similar programs have been implemented in other cities, with success in addressing similar problems.
(8) The fees set forth in this article are reasonable in amount, and are based on and do not exceed the city's related cost of implementing the programs provided in this article.
(b) Based on the foregoing, the city council has determined that it is necessary, desirable, appropriate and in the public interest to implement uniform residential rental property registration, and a regular inspection program that is phased in accordance with the history of code violations on each property. The purpose of these programs is to address the issue of substandard rental properties, promote greater compliance with health and safety standards, and preserve the quality of the city's neighborhoods and available housing. The programs are expected to achieve greater compliance with health, safety, and welfare Code provisions, the violation of which are a threat to the occupants' safety, structural integrity of the building, and a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. The intent of these programs includes:
(1) Promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the persons living in and near residential rental properties;
(2) Preserving the existing housing supply in neighborhoods;
(3) Helping to maintain property values for the city's tax base;
(4) Working toward preventing or eliminating substandard and deteriorating rental housing; and
(5) Maintaining a living environment that contributes to healthful individual and family living.