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Code enforcement details Safe and Secure Housing initiative, cites demolitions and fines for troubled apartment complexes
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Summary
Atlanta’s code enforcement director told the committee the department closed roughly 800 legacy cases through an 'operation follow‑up' effort, increased inspections 14% in 2025, executed 45 demolitions and assessed large fines at problem apartment complexes as part of the Safe and Secure Housing Initiative.
Daphne Talley, director of APD Code Enforcement, and project manager Tayon English briefed the Public Safety committee on Jan. 27 about 2025 accomplishments under the Safe and Secure Housing Initiative and the department’s top priorities for 2026.
Talley said the office exceeded its inspection goal with a 14% increase in field inspections in 2025 and resolved complaints at a 44% higher rate than the prior year, largely through a coordinated effort called 'operation follow‑up' that revisited older unresolved files (closing roughly 800 cases that dated back to 2017–2021). The department reported executing 45 demolitions in 2025 and a significant example that catalyzed the initiative: the judicial acquisition and demolition of 900 Newtown Circle (Forest Cove/4 Seasons Apartments) after prolonged code violations and resident relocations.
English described apartment‑detail blitzes (15 conducted in 2025) and highlighted enforcement results at specific properties: 1240 Oakland Drive SW (multiple visits, 136 code violations identified; owner fines and remediation resulted in tenant relocations and a judgement totaling about $92,000 including court costs) and a judgment against an owner at The Preserve at Camp Creek (historically Royal Oaks) that totaled about $244,000. Talley said the department now has contractors on call to test for mold following a 2023 ordinance that authorized mold testing when suspected, but funding limits mean not every complaint gets immediate contractor testing.
Talley described staffing: 24 code enforcement officers on the roster, with 21 available in the field (three on leave). She outlined policy priorities for 2026 including possible shifts from administrative interim proceedings to greater use of judicial in‑rem processes, streamlining demolitions and securing longer‑term vendor contracts for demolition and clean‑and‑close work.
Members asked about the difference between administrative and judicial in‑rem routes, mold testing capacity, and ensuring clean‑and‑close orders do not simply recur; staff said some repeat properties can bypass courtesy notices and proceed directly to abatement, and judicial timelines typically give owners 60 days to act before city abatement.
What’s next: the department will continue prioritized demolitions, pursue procurement to secure demolition and remediation contractors, consider code amendments that move more cases to civil/judicial processes and work with the solicitor’s office on pending referrals.
Quoted: "Operation follow‑up allowed us to revisit properties and close out about 800 cases," Talley said.
