FOSTORIA | DeHaven Urges Fostoria to Scrap Lead‑Line Ordinance, Warns of Hidden Costs for Homeowners

Fostoria real estate broker and law student Sara DeHaven has submitted a detailed written objection to proposed Ordinance 1357.07, the city’s plan to require inspections and disclosures of led or galvanized water service lines during property transfers. DeHaven, who works daily with local buyers and sellers, says she supports the goal of safe drinking water but believes the current proposal is unworkable, unfair to homeowners, and potentially damaging to Fostoria’s housing market. She is urging city officials to withdraw the ordinance and replace it with a more targeted, evidence‑based framework designed with input from stakeholders.

Key points from DeHaven’s comment include:

The ordinance would act as a restraint on property transfers by requiring city inspections before closing, risking delays and failed deals.

New inspection costs would typically fall on buyers, which DeHaven says could push price‑sensitive families to choose neighboring communities instead of Fostoria.

A proposed “assumption of responsibility” form for buyers who skip inspections is described as coercive, shifting liability for possible lead issues onto purchasers from day one.

The measure focuses heavily on private residential owners while exempting many non‑residential buildings where people gather, which DeHaven calls a “public health paradox.”

Inspections are assigned to the Zoning Department without clear training standards, plumbing licensure requirements, or defined timelines, creating uncertainty and risk for buyers, sellers, and landlords.

For rentals, repeated inspections at each new tenancy would duplicate existing federal and state lead‑disclosure rules and add costs without clear public‑health benefits.

Public health protections should start with the city’s own infrastructure by identifying and replacing any led or galvanized mains, ensuring that water entering private service lines is safe before imposing new mandates on individual homeowners.

DeHaven’s proposal calls for an alternative ordinance that first guarantees city‑owned mains are free of lead, sets transparent inspection standards and reasonable deadlines, avoids coercive liability agreements, and aligns with state and federal law so Fostoria can ensure safe water without chilling investment or destabilizing local housing.

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