One important way that local officials can foster
healthy neighborhoods is through local building codes,
conditional uses and nuisance abatement programs. These are often
referred to collectively as code compliance or code enforcement.
Poorly maintained property can create an unhealthy living
environment for tenants. In addition, buildings that are
abandoned, vandalized or covered with graffiti can harbor
criminal activity and contribute to the perception that a
neighborhood or district is an unsafe place. This perception can
keep people indoors or discourage them from visiting the area.
Local code enforcement can contribute to a more healthful built
environment in many ways; for example:
- To safely accommodate pedestrians, property owners can be
required to maintain street trees and other landscaping and to
keep sidewalks adjoining their homes or businesses in good
condition. Similarly, cities can require that street trees be
replaced when they are removed because of concerns about public
safety or damage to streets and sidewalks.
- Code enforcement and nuisance abatement programs can be used
to require property owners to keep their property in acceptable
condition that meets community standards.
- When agencies use conditional use permits to place
restrictions on how property is used and businesses operate, the
conditions must be enforced to be effective. Similarly,
businesses that voluntarily agree to promote healthy practices in
return for incentives, such as increased floor area or reduced
requirements to provide parking, need to be monitored. For
example, if stores near schools have agreed as a condition of
approval to restrict the kinds of food and beverages they offer
and advertise to minors local officials need to determine whether
they are complying with the agreed-upon restrictions. Likewise,
local agencies must ensure that businesses that have agreed to
install secure bicycle parking for employees and customers have
actually done so.
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