Code Enforcement Explained
What does
Code Enforcement do?
The purpose of the Department of Code Enforcement is to
protect the public health, safety, and welfare related to existing structures.
The department administers and enforces the International Property Maintenance
Code. Which includes regulation of the following:
- Minimum housing standards for existing residential structures, and related environmental conditions which may contribute to deterioration and devaluation of properties in the community
- Abandoned commercial structures
- Storage of inoperable or abandoned vehicles on public and private property
The Process
Compliance
Depending on the type of violation, and because these violations
involve private property, there are standard procedures that we are legally
obligated to follow. Once a complaint is received from 311 or identified by an
Inspector, an investigation is conducted to assess the violation, determine
property ownership and to research past violations at the property. If
warranted, the Inspector will then issue a Notice to Correct Violation to the
property owner.
After a Notice to Correct Violation is issued for structural
or environmental conditions, follow-up inspections are conducted to determine
if compliance has been met. The owner must contact the Department of Code
Enforcement to discuss the needed repairs and arrange a plan of action to meet
compliance. Follow-up inspections are then done to determine if compliance has
been met. Depending on the circumstances and severity, the department can then
opt to:
- Give an extension to meet compliance
- Cite the owner to court
- Issue an order to vacate the premises
- Issue an order to not occupy the property until repairs are made
- Refer the property to Condemnation
Should the owner fail to meet compliance specifications,
court action can be initiated at any time after the first follow-up inspection.
The department utilizes the General Sessions Environmental Court to resolve cases
where the violator has failed to comply.
Condemnation
In some situations, the
inspector may refer dangerous structures to the Condemnation Department. The
condemnation procedures begin with a title search. Once the title search is
done, all appropriate parties are notified by certified mail that a condemnation
hearing will be held. If the structure is condemned, all interested
parties are notified again by certified mail of the Order of condemnation and
the intent to demolish. If the property is demolished by the City, the amount
of the demolition is assessed against the property taxes where the structure
was located.
Abandoned
Vehicles
When a violation order is issued for an inoperable vehicle,
a follow-up inspection is conducted in 14 calendar days. If the owner fails to
repair, remove or place the vehicle in a lawful storage place after 14 calendar
days, the vehicle may be impounded to the City storage lot or legal action can
be taken. Impounded vehicles may be reclaimed from the City of Memphis Vehicle
storage lot (353-8200) by paying the towing and storage fees.
Glossary
To track a violation through the process to compliance, code enforcement inspectors use specific codes within the service request to denote progress. Below is a glossary of codes you will find throughout the data and their associated definitions.