Strategic Code Enforcement

The definitive guide to creating, administering, and enforcing land use regulations and building, housing, and nuisance abatement codes and procedures. A complete update of Solano Press's Code Enforcement: A Comprehensive Approach, reflecting changes in the field and the legal, policy, and political complexities confronting code enforcement professionals today, such as zoning reform, housing preservation, hoarding, homeless encampments, and vacant properties. Outlines core principles and practices for data-driven decision-making, proactive leadership, creative management and cross-agency, cross-sector collaborations to advance community goals. Highlights innovative strategies and models from pioneering cities across the country, and examples of statutory and case law from California and other states. An essential reference for local government policymakers, planning and housing directors, municipal attorneys, prosecutors, code enforcement practitioners, and their nonprofit and community partners.

Chapters cover:

• The elements of proactive, strategic code enforcement, the major actors, external forces, and core principles and practices
• Legal, regulatory, policy, and planning foundations for code enforcement
• Managing code enforcement operations
• Investigating code enforcement cases
• Selecting and using code enforcement remedies
• Using administrative remedies
• Pursuing criminal prosecution
• Taking civil judicial action
• Defending code enforcement actions
• Handling complex cases (e.g., substandard housing, reclaiming vacant and abandoned properties, chronic nuisances, fair housing/group homes, mini-dorms/short term rentals, and code enforcement and the First Amendment)