Rental Code Could Prohibit Greek Housing in Ames

Several Iowa State University Greek houses would close, if forced to comply with current rental codes, Greek community leaders said at an Ames City Council meeting Tuesday.

Leaders told the council that they had no problems complying with fire codes, but said it didn't make sense to force fraternities and sororities to abide by current rental rules because they thought of themselves as families, the Iowa State Daily reported.

Rules such as providing a parking space for every bedroom and limiting residents to eight per bathroom would be impossible to meet, leaders said.

City council didn't make any decisions and asked city staff to explore the issues, the report said.

The issue arose when Ames Fire Chief Shawn Bayouth took over last fall, The Ames Tribune reports. He realized that Greek housing had not been subject to rental inspections despite the fact that fraternities and sororities were considered rental housing by the city of Ames.

“It’s very clear to me in reading the Chapter 13 document today if these were truly applied to the Greek houses that many of the chapters would have to close,” said Jon Fleming, chapter adviser of Theta Chi, as reported by the Tribune.

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