Difficulties in Small Communities
Small towns face enormous hurdles in enforcing code. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise; after all, in the small communities that boast the best sense of community in America, it isn’t very popular to tell people who have been your family’s neighbors stretching back three generations (and who are almost always related to you), to clean-up their tire pile, get their old trucks off the street, or cut down their dying tree.
In small towns, everyone is considered a neighbor. Everyone knows everything about everyone else. Additionally, many small towns don’t have a single full-time employee or staffer, much less someone with an understanding of the town code or code enforcement practices. As a result, over-worked elected officials with full-time jobs have to squeeze enforcement and compliance activities in between soccer practice, choir, and spending a few precious moments with their children.
While uncomfortable in any setting, the issues related to small town code enforcement are not as prevalent in larger cities. In these communities, full-time officers and others are hired with the sole objective of investigating code infractions and enforcing compliance. This highlights the importance of small towns having strategies that work for their unique situation.
So, Why Enforce?
“Code compliance is recognized as a key component of fighting public health threats like Zika virus by reducing standing water from old tires or broken down vehicles to eliminate breeding habitat for mosquitos and other disease carrying pests.”
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Improved land values
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Decreased numbers of attractive nuisances (attractive nuisances are objects that are hazardous and likely to attract children. Landowners have a responsibility to remove or adequately fence/protect the hazard to protect children from potential injuries)
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Improved safety
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Increased sense of community
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Improved public image
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Improved quality of life
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Reduced health threats
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Increased likelihood of economic development