Syracuse officials seek $500,000 for third‑party plan review, highlight code‑enforcement gains and building enforcement actions

Syracuse City leaders on Monday outlined a proposed budget increase for the Division of Code Enforcement that includes a $500,000 request to pay for third‑party plan review, two new inspector positions and funding for temporary summer workers to address vacant‑lot mowing and similar tasks. The presentation to the Syracuse City Common Council also reviewed enforcement activity this year, including the closure of more than 40 nuisance commercial properties and ongoing court action aimed at several large apartment owners.

The request came during a budget hearing in which Deputy Commissioner Jake Dishaw, who oversees code enforcement and zoning administration, described permitting and enforcement highlights and answered councilors’ questions. “We set our goal at 8 weeks,” Dishaw said of the target review time for new commercial building plan reviews. He also said staff had “helped to close over 40 illegal nuisance properties” across the city.

The proposal would fund a professional services line item—about $500,000—to expand use of private firms to conduct plan reviews so the city can issue permits faster while keeping in‑house capacity focused on other reviews. Dishaw and other officials said retirements and nationwide shortages of senior plan reviewers have reduced in‑house capacity and that contracting with outside firms will create “multiple lanes” for…