County rebrands code enforcement as 'code compliance,' emphasizes outreach and voluntary fixes

Code enforcement manager James Terry told the board the department is shifting emphasis from purely punitive enforcement to community‑focused compliance: outreach, early contact and off‑ramps for property owners who promptly remedy violations.

Terry said the department has moved from mailing citations to more in‑person contact and is seeing success: properties that were brought into compliance after outreach were returned to better condition without costly abatements. He described a few high‑cost cases, noted that some older properties previously deferred for cost reasons remain expensive to abate, and asked the board to approve rebranding materials to support the change in approach.

Commissioners generally supported the change and asked that any new signage, vehicle lettering or apparel be phased in with existing budget and replacement cycles rather than causing an unbudgeted expense. The board approved the rebranding effort with the instruction to implement within current departmental funds and to prioritize low‑cost updates such as lettering overlays when vehicles are replaced.