Minimum Housing and Unsafe Buildings Last updated or reviewed on April 13, 2026 Asheville Housing Rules Asheville has a Minimum Housing Code. These rules help keep our community safe and healthy. The goal is to stop homes from falling apart and to protect the people living in them. What You Need to Know Safety First: Every home in the city must meet basic safety standards. Maintenance: All owners must keep their buildings in good repair to protect the health and property of others. The Law: It is unlawful (against the rules) for a home to fall below these basic standards. The text of the Code can be found here: American Legal Publishng - Asheville Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities City rules (Section 4-214 of the Code) state that both the property owner and the tenant have responsibilities related to minimum housing requirements. The Owner’s Job The owner is mainly responsible for making sure the home follows city building requirements. The Tenant’s Job If you are renting, you must keep your home clean and safe. You must tell the owner if something needs to be fixed. The City of Asheville suggests following these steps to get things fixed: Write it down: It is better to send a letter or email than to just call or text. This creates a record of your request. Be patient: You must give the owner a fair amount of time to finish the repairs. Mold Many people call the City to complain about mold in their homes. It is important to know how the City handles these calls. Rules About Mold No Federal Rules: There are no national laws that set standards for mold. No City inspections: Because there are no laws for it, the City cannot inspect your home just for mold. When We CAN Help While the City does not inspect for mold, it can inspect for the things that cause it. You should ask for a housing inspection if you have: A leaking roof or leaking pipes Water-damaged walls Any other source of extra moisture If we find a water problem, we can tell the owner to fix it. This often helps solve the mold problem, too. Learn More For more tips on mold and air quality, check these resources: NC Department of Health and Human Services Buncombe County Indoor Air Quality Filing a Complaint A housing complaint is a report about a physical problem that needs to be fixed. It can be on the inside or outside of the building. Tenants are encouraged to tell the landlord and give the landlord a fair amount of time to make the repair before filing a complaint. If the problem is dangerous or a major health risk, do not wait. Contact us immediately. Note: If you live in Buncombe County but outside the Asheville city limits, call the Fire Marshal at (828) 250-6620. When you report a problem, please have this information ready: Address (and unit number) of the dwelling Name of the owner What is wrong and how long it has been that way. Has the landlord/owner been alerted? When? Was it in writing? Has anyone tried to fix the problem yet? How to Contact Us In Writing: Mail complaint information to the City of Asheville Development Services Department, P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802. Address it to the attention of the Housing Code Coordinator. In Person: Visit the Development Services Department at 161 S. Charlotte Street between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed public holidays). By Phone: Call (828) 259-5764 during the business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed public holidays). Buncombe County residents outside Asheville city limits should call the Buncombe County Fire Marshal at (828) 250-6620. Your Privacy and Rights Staying Anonymous: You can report a problem by phone without giving your name. However, it is harder for City inspectors to follow up on the complaint if they cannot contact you. Retaliation: It is unlawful for a landlord to kick you out just because you filed a complaint. State law protects your right to live in a safe, clean home. What to Expect When you file a complaint, the inspector will ask questions to learn exactly what is wrong. They will then schedule a time to meet you at the property for the inspection. The inspection could take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour. When the inspector is finished they will tell you what they found. If any issues are found, the inspector will write a report of the problems and send a Notice of Violation to the property owner. The owner is usually given 30 days to fix the problems. This time frame may change depending on how serious the repairs are.
