The Department of Code Enforcement was previously a division in the Department of Business and Housing Development (BHD). As part of a city-wide reorganization and the administration's commitment to cleanup Tampa's neighborhoods, Code Enforcement will operate as a separate department focusing on best practices.

The department's goal is to improve the quality of life for all Tampa residents with swift due process and enforcement through an aggressive program dealing with property maintenance, structural, environmental, public nuisance and zoning codes. To achieve this, code enforcement inspectors were reassigned into three districts covering the entire city to actively patrol for potential code violations in addition to handling citizen complaints. Additional funds totaling $150,000 have been budgeted in FY04 to ease the caseload backlog for structure demolition, property maintenance and inoperative vehicle removal. This will further expedite Code Enforcement's clean-up of public nuisance properties.

A Customer Service Division has been created within the department to assist citizens with questions and concerns. In addition, a new Windows based, Internet-accessible code violation tracking software system will replace the department's outdated software programs. This new "user friendly" program allows for faster updates and reporting. Inspectors will also receive laptop computers that will allow their inspections and reporting to be done from their cars, thus increasing productivity and timeliness.