The Development Services Department (DSD) is committed to strengthening Code Enforcement in San Antonio to better serve the community and protect the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Code enforcement is vital in keeping properties safe, clean, and in line with city standards. To support this goal, we are developing a new Strategic Plan focused on modernizing services, improving communication, and increasing responsiveness. We partnered with EngageBetween, LLC, to help gather input from residents, staff, and community stakeholders. Funding for this initiative was included in the approved 2025 budget as part of our continued investment in better service and accountability.

 

BACKGROUND

Council District 4 submitted a City Council Consideration Request (CCR) after Code Enforcement was identified as a budget priority in the City's budget survey. Half of the respondents indicated that current services either did not meet their needs or only met them halfway. This request asks us to create a multi-phase improvement plan incorporating stakeholder feedback.

Key focus areas for creating the strategic plan include gathering community input to update procedures and technology and streamline processes. We also aim to integrate an enhanced platform that works with the 311 system, prioritize enforcement on vacant lots, formalize annual notice procedures, and improve communication between the Code Enforcement team, residents, and City Council. As we review our current guidelines, we will look at additional educational outreach, review best practices in other cities, balance proactive versus reactive responses, refine emergency abatement processes, evaluate staffing needs, and seek relevant accreditations to raise department standards.

 

ACCREDITATION

The City's Code Enforcement Section was the fourth in the nation and the first in Texas to earn accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS). IAS is an independent body that verifies a program's adherence to established quality standards and competence in carrying out critical tasks such as inspections and certifications. This recognition underscores the City's commitment to enforcing state laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations defining property maintenance requirements.

Our code enforcement processes ensure compliance with legal and organizational standards through thoroughly assessing buildings and structures, issuing notices and citations, filing liens, and abating violations in cases of non-compliance. Additionally, the program addresses unsafe or unlawful structures, responds to imminent dangers, secures or demolishes hazardous buildings, and recovers costs associated with emergency actions when the law permits.

CONTACT US:

Send us your comments to:

CodeStrategicPlan@sanantonio.gov