October 18, 2021 -- Mayor Sylvester Turner joined leaders from the City and around the country in observing October as National Code Compliance Month, recognizing and appreciating the hard work done by the many City employees, contractors, and private citizens to keep our communities safe.
City code enforcement officers can be found in several departments, including the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), Houston Public Works (HPW), and Houston Fire Department (HFD). Code enforcement officers are tasked with inspecting residential and commercial properties as well as streets and sidewalks. The duties of code enforcement officers include identifying and removing safety hazards, nuisances, unhealthy conditions, and other city codes violations to keep Houston clean and safe.
“Code enforcement is an essential piece of keeping Houston a safe city, and we have some of the best enforcement officers in the country,” said Mayor Turner. “The work is skilled and requires great study and understanding of a wide variety of city codes and protocols. Please join me in thanking these hard workers, this month especially, and continue to show your support throughout the year.”
DON’s Inspections and Public Service division conducts residential code enforcement and responds to neighborhood complaints pertaining to overgrown lots, dangerous buildings, trash and junk accumulation, and inoperable motor vehicles on private residential properties.
“Department of Neighborhoods code enforcement officers are frontline workers in the battle against blight,” said DON director TaKasha Francis. “They face innumerable dangers daily as they work in our communities to combat dangerous vacant buildings, trash, tall grass and weeds, graffiti, and junk motor vehicles. Their hard work and responsiveness enhance our quality of life and make our communities cleaner, healthier, and safer. The professionalism of our code enforcement officers is second to none, and we salute them for their outstanding work!”
HPW Code Inspectors review, inspect, and issue permits for more than 30,000 projects each year. These professionals ensure buildings, streets, drainage systems, sidewalks, signs, and water and wastewater connections are built to the minimum standards of the codes.
“Code Compliance Month is an opportunity to recognize the team dedicated to making sure our community is safe, our building codes are up to date, and all projects comply with Houston’s codes,” said HPW director Carol Haddock. “The City of Houston launched a new 311 platform in July that makes it even easier to request information on city services and report non-emergency issues.”
The Houston Fire Marshal’s Office has primary responsibility in reducing community risk through Life Safety Bureau fire inspections, with over 27,000 inspection activities completed annually. Additional inspectors are dedicated to support HPW’s plan review processes related to access, alarm systems, and fire protection systems.
“By identifying and removing life safety hazards, the Houston Fire Marshal’s Office remains a vital component in achieving the Houston Fire Department’s mission ‘to save lives, protect property, and serve our community with courage, commitment, and compassion,’” said HFD Chief Samuel Peña.
The City relies on the community to help identify potential code violations and asks they be reported to 311 ( 713.837.0311) or at www.houstontx.gov/311.
Learn more about City code enforcement:
Department of Neighborhoods: www.houstontx.gov/ips
Houston Public Works: www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/building-code-enforcement
Houston Fire Department: www.houstontx.gov/fire/HFMO
To report code violations:
Call 3-1-1, submit a report online at www.houston311.org, or send an email to [email protected].