BELLAIRE — To help law enforcement find people and to assist the village in collecting taxes, Bellaire officials are attempting to enforce a long-time ordinance regarding rental properties.

The ordinance calls for landlords to register their properties with the village and to include the names of the tenants living in each property.

The names of children younger than 18 years old are not required, just the number of children.

“The ordinance has been on the books for 30 years. It went by the wayside, but now we have so many rentals,” said Village Administrator Scott Porter. “It gives us an idea of who is living in our town, and it helps with income tax collection.”

Porter said only the landlords can be fined $250 per week if they do not comply.

Utilities to the property can be shut off as well until the landlord complies.

However, the occupants of a rental property can register themselves and do not have wait for the landlord to do so.

Registration forms can be filled out at the mayor’s office at the municipal building on Belmont Street.

The ordinance also calls for the inspection of a property every time there is a change of tenant.

The inspections are meant to help keep properties safe and up to current building codes.