Columbus officials have taken two North Side landlords to court, accusing them of letting serious fire hazards linger in their apartment complexes while basic life-safety systems sat offline. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, says the owners failed to protect residents when fire alarms and sprinklers were out of service and asks the Franklin County Environmental Court to order urgent repairs, temporary protections, and any other steps needed to keep tenants safe.
The verified complaint, filed in Franklin County Municipal Court’s Environmental Division by City Attorney Zach Klein’s Property Action Team, targets multiple parcels, including 2200 Walford Lane and 2160–2180 Fitzroy Drive, and names AMG Mayfair LLC, AMG Fitzroy LLC, and related entities, according to the Columbus City Attorney. Inspectors cited repeated failures to keep fire-alarm and sprinkler systems in working order and alleged the owners did not put a temporary fire watch in place while those systems were down, leaving tenants exposed.
([city-attorney.columbus.gov](https://city-attorney.columbus.gov/pdf/press/amg_complaint.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Why the city moved to court
Klein's office says the properties show a long-running pattern of code issues that earlier orders and warnings did not fix. The lawsuit lands in the middle of a broader City Hall effort to crack down on repeat-offender landlords, including a proposed rental registry that would track problem properties and speed up enforcement, according to WOSU.
([wosu.org](https://www.wosu.org/politics-government/2026-04-15/columbus-city-council-proposes-rental-registry-to-combat-problem-landlords))
Court-ordered safety steps
An environmental court judge has already signed off on interim relief, ordering the owners to maintain a temporary fire watch and hire a private security firm to patrol the properties, keep a fire-watch log and share that log with the court, according to the filing. The goal is to give residents some immediate protection while the alarm and sprinkler systems are repaired and the buildings are brought back into compliance with code.
([city-attorney.columbus.gov](https://city-attorney.columbus.gov/pdf/press/amg_complaint.pdf?utm_source=openai))
What the code requires
Ohio and Columbus fire rules require an approved fire watch whenever critical safety systems are out of service, and that watch has to stay in place until repairs are finished. Ignoring that requirement can lead to civil penalties and other remedies ordered by the court. The City of Columbus Building Compliance office says owners are ultimately responsible for fixing violations and warns that ongoing noncompliance can result in fines, board-ups, or even receivership, according to City of Columbus Building Compliance.
([columbus.gov](https://www.columbus.gov/Business-Development/Building-Zoning-Services/Building-Plan-Review/Building-Compliance))
What this means for tenants
For renters at the affected complexes, the court orders are supposed to translate into more frequent safety checks, documented patrols, and a schedule for repairs that has a judge watching the clock. City Attorney Zach Klein said landlords who break fire codes and allow unsafe conditions for tenants will be held accountable, according to 10TV.
([columbus.gov](https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Columbus-City-Attorney/Press-Releases))
The case will move forward in Franklin County Environmental Court, and city officials say they will keep monitoring conditions at the properties and seek whatever remedies the judge allows in order to protect tenants. Residents with immediate safety concerns are urged to call 311 or contact the city’s Building Compliance office so inspectors can document potential hazards and pursue enforcement.
