Code Enforcement

Overview

Starting in 2018, the department began tracking all of the code enforcement cases geospatially, so that this data could be used to show trends and “repeat cases” in terms of Code Enforcement. The Code Enforcement function of our department primarily works on violations of the City’s nuisance codes in regard to (1) Loose Trash and Debris, and (2) Grass and Weeds in excess of 10 inches. In 2023, the PABD had a total of 396 code enforcement cases, 517 total violations, and 952 total inspections. Each violation must be inspected at least twice, but some of the inspections are combined if an address has multiple violations at one time. A case is opened each time the department receives a complaint, whether or not there is a violation. A location can have multiple violations, but it is more typical that it only have one violation. A number of the metrics in this report are new and we are able to share due to the recent implementation of the Citizenserve platform, a fully cloud-based system which increases department efficiency, minimizes human error, and provides more insight into the daily operations of the department.

With the addition of Code Enforcement in CitizenServe, PABD staff has been capturing more historic and current data. This allows PABD to track repeat code enforcement violators.

Total No. of Cases

396

29.7% Decrease from 2022

Total Inspections

952

13.6% Decrease from 2022

Total Violations

517

8.9% Decrease from 2022

Average Days to Close

14

12.5% (2-Day) decrease from 2022

Code Enforcement Cases in 2023

Types of Cases

This chart is a breakdown of the types of code enforcement cases that were addressed in 2023, between "Trash and Debris," "Overgrown Grass and Weeds," and "Zoning Violations". Since adopting the new Citizenerve platform, we have been able to maintain a more complete digital record of all code violation cases, including Zoning Violations, which were historically not digitized at all. This new level of data collection allows us to better examine the types of cases we're seeing come through the office, and spot any trends as they begin to occur.

Time to Close Cases

This chart is a breakdown of the amount of time it takes from opening the case to completely closing the case. The average time this year was 14 days. We strive to quickly and effectively resolve all code enforcement complaints because these violations cause real measurable impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Quick responses and resolutions to these code violations help sustain property values and character in our community.

Board of Works Interventions

For a vast majority of these cases, the PABD staff can work with the property owners to ensure the problem is resolved, but in some instances where the property owner will not or cannot comply with orders to remediate the problem we have to request assistance through other City Department to perform this work and the bill for that work becomes a lien recorded against the property. This chart shows the break-down of how many cases needed additional intervention through the City's Board of Public Work's and Safety (BOW). Due to the legal notice requirements involved in sending a case to the BOW, additional time is added to the resolution of these code enforcement cases, so we work to resolve as many cases as possible without involving the BOW. In 2023 the number of cases needing intervention by the BOW was 187 (52.7%).

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