The city’s Housing Committee worked to clarify and amend city ordinances regarding the notification of tenants and the scheduling for rental property showings Wednesday.

The committee also addressed the specifics of photographic evidence by landlords of damage to rented properties.

Currently the legislation states a landlord may choose to enter the property over a period of three days for no more than three hours per day without at least a 24-hour notice with the intent to show the property for sale or lease.

“The tenant has the exclusive right of possession of the premises under the state statute unless the landlord is doing a showing with previous notice,” said committee member David Sparer. “We’re trying to help people not have disputes by being clearer about it.”

The committee approved an amendment to the legislation so a landlord must now provide the date of the intended showing, and either a specific time or a four-hour window as part of the notification. The three-day period remains, though the amendment now allows the landlord to show the property for up to four hours per day, according to the amendment.

Executive Director of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin Nancy Jensen said she believes the new amendment would be beneficial to both the tenant and the landlord.

“There are many times when you’ve established a showing arrangement and being able to have some flexibility in the amount of showing time helps,” Jensen said. “The ability to have an extra hour of time when you’re trying to match schedules is convenient.”

Committee members reinforced their support for the continued necessity of the 24-hour notice and knowing either the exact time of the intended showing or a four-hour period in which the showing would occur.

Jensen added the additional hour helped the landlord to optimally utilize single days rather than multiple days.

Many board members voiced their commitment to maintaining the 24-hour notice; committee member Philip Ejercito said the notification was a simple necessity.

“I don’t think it’s that hard for people to keep appointments; notice should be given,” Ejercito said. “Doctors give 24 hours notice. I call ahead to get my oil changed — I believe that the landlord should notify the tenant.”

The issue of photographic evidence of damage to rental property was addressed, with the committee approving an amendment requiring tenants receive a typed notice of the damage and copies of all photographs used to document it.

Matt Tucker, Madison zoning administrator, addressed notifications of an entirely different sort.

Residents owning chickens are required to notify only the other tenants of a property and the landlord, according to the amendment. Currently the legislation states an owner of chickens is required to notify all residents living within 200 feet of the property.

Tucker said that when the legislation was modified in 2004, there were 70 chicken licenses issued.

The amendment retains the prohibition on keeping roosters.