Code Enforcement Practices
Code enforcement is a critical function of municipal government, as it ensures that property owners are maintaining their properties and that the local housing stock is safe and habitable for residents. Many of our region’s municipalities are facing greater demands on their code enforcement staff in a time of limited resources and diminished municipal budgets. Many suburbs were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, and are continue to struggle with increases in the number of single-family homes for rent and high long-term vacancy rates.
Up To Code
In 2014, the Caucus received funding from the Illinois Attorney General National Foreclosure Settlement to monitor best practices in code enforcement. Our website, Up To Code, provides effective solutions for municipalities following best practices across four steps of action:
- Establish an understanding of what your municipality can do to encourage rental property standards;
- Increase capacity to track information on rental properties, landlords, and changes in ownership;
- Streamline processes for code enforcement; and
- Implement incentives that reward good building owner behavior.
Up To Code helps categorize actions for home rule and non home role municipalities and details best practices that your community may enact. The Caucus and its partner, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, have routinely put these ideas into practice through Homes for a Changing Region.
Staff Contact
Ben Schnelle
Housing and Community Development Associate
bschnelle@mayorscaucus.org