Code Enforcement

The City of Chamblee believes that there is a need to establish minimum standards governing the use, occupancy, condition and maintenance of property, dwellings, buildings, and structures. If left completely unregulated, the failure to properly maintain property can become a threat to public safety and a detriment to property values and the city's general public welfare, as well as create an aesthetic nuisance.

In order to accomplish this, the city has adopted a comprehensive property maintenance code which is in addition to the zoning ordinance, building codes, health code, and fire codes.

Code enforcement and compliance is primarily the responsibility of the Community Policing Section of the police department. These officers are charged with enforcing the various city ordinances related to property maintenance such as junk cars, litter and trash, outdoor storage, parking on grass, illegal signs and overcrowding. Besides finding the problems themselves, the officers follow up on problems identified and referred by other police officers as well as complaints received from the public.

While many of the code enforcement issues may seem small, they have a tendency to grow and multiply when not dealt with. When that happens, they become a neighborhood issue and can give the impression that nobody cares about the neighborhood or the condition of the properties. The next thing you know, property values are being affected, criminal activity begins to appear or increase and the quality of life declines.

When problems are identified, the person(s) responsible are issued a Code Enforcement Warning Notice describing the specific violation(s), the corrective action required and a time limit for completion. In most cases, the responsible parties correct the problems as requested. When problems are not corrected, citations requiring an appearance in municipal court are issued. For most violations, the ordinances specify that each day a violation exists constitutes a separate offense. This means that the failure to take corrective action in a timely manner may result in multiple citations to court.

Reporting Violations

Common Problems or Violations

• Junk vehicles
• Trash, litter and debris
• Outdoor storage
• Parking on grass
• Tall grass and weeds
• Commercial vehicle parking
• Prohibited signs
• Boarding houses
• Graffiti
• Un-permitted construction