Why Councils Should Prioritize Efficient Code Enforcement Software
November 9, 2023Councilors and board members play a critical role in shaping the future of their communities. They are entrusted with the responsibility of making informed decisions that benefit their citizens. It’s their responsibility to help source the right resources and tools for government departments because the right tools are fundamental to achieve excellence in their work. Efficient code enforcement is essential to a stronger government and community, and online code compliance software is the answer.
In this article, we explore why councilors and board members should focus on how code enforcement is performed and consider online software.
Stronger Understanding of What Happens in Their Jurisdiction
One of the primary reasons why city councilors and board members should care about code enforcement is to gain a better understanding of what’s happening in their jurisdiction. By closely monitoring code enforcement, they can keep a finger on the pulse of various issues impacting their communities, like areas experiencing more complaints than common. This awareness is vital for effective governance.
Online code enforcement software allows officials to visualize where complaints are in their community. Cloudpermit integrates with communities’ GIS so they can see where complaints and permits exist on an online, interactive map. This is very helpful to understand present trends and predict future issues. By staying aware of code compliance, communities can respond quickly and direct their efforts accordingly.
Enhanced Transparency Between Departments and Citizens
Transparency is the cornerstone of accountable and friendly governance. Government officials can ensure their citizens have confidence in their decisions by maintaining transparent code enforcement.
Enabling citizens to file complaints online helps governments gather the necessary information more effectively since citizens understand what is needed from them. It also boosts transparency between government departments. For instance, if there are multiple complaints about a property and the city needs to verify if the owner obtained the required permit, the code enforcement department can easily access past permits through the same software used by the building department.
Better and On-Site Responses to Code Violations
By closely monitoring code enforcement activities, councilors and board members can gain meaningful insight into various community issues, including areas experiencing higher-than-average complaint rates. This heightened awareness is pivotal for effective governance.
Online code compliance software empowers government officers to be proactive in tackling code violations. This technology equips officers with the ability to take a proactive stance in the field. They can instantly address code violations they come across and generate cases on their phone or tablet while in the field.
Officers can survey their community and find any potential issues before they become a bigger problem. They can proactively identify and report potential issues such as construction without permits, missing smoke detectors, inadequate heat and water for residents, or garbage in the streets. By storing data in the cloud, officers can immediately update, print, and issue orders without the need to return to the office and then revisit the site.
Essentially, instead of code enforcement officers only being reactive, they can be proactive in the field with the right, online tools. The faster code officers respond to code violations, the sooner they can get resolved. This makes for a safer, more welcoming place to live for residents.
Cloudpermit Software Features for Enhanced Code Enforcement:
Property View: A comprehensive property view feature allows officials to access all property information (permit history and violations) in one view.
GIS Mapping: Cloudpermit integrates with GIS so officials can plan inspection routes, pin areas with issues, and visualize trouble spots on an interactive map.
Building Permitting and Code Enforcement Together: All building permits, complaints, and cases exist in the same software for easy access to important data.
Online Access: Governments can work in the field with 24/7 access to their information in the cloud.
Reporting: It’s easy to create accurate reports to predict future trends and make informed decisions about the present.
Councilors and board members have a significant role to play in ensuring the well-being of their communities. By prioritizing efficient code enforcement, governments can gain insights into their communities, maintain transparency, allocate resources more effectively, and make data-driven decisions in the field.
Online code compliance software allows councilors and board members to enhance the livability and sustainability of their communities. To take a closer look at our software, book a demo with us.
