.MTE0.MTE0

Ci ty 0£ A!: lc2r,ta '\. ... HOUSING CODE COlvQ LV.:\CE PROGRA11 Policy and Pr o cedure Guide J anuary 1, 1967 I. Goals : A.

t-:::.xL.1um efforts immediately to secur e uublic understanding of the ;:;o .:i.ls

2~1d · enef its of the Housing Cod e Comp liance P rog r am through use o-;: 1_J c rs ona l contact, pamphlets, press r elease s and other public i nforir,a t ion

T:2 i3 .

B.

-.dxir.,um c oordinat ion irrmediat e l y wit h all other public a g encies ,-.'.10 Hill

be a~~e cted by, and need to assist in, the conduct and result ~ o~ th is · C. Conservation of those residential structures in goo d condition tG p re ent t~e spread o f blight and decay throug h encouragement o f ma int enance e~fo rts a:i.d pro te ction from those condit i ons such as overcrowd i ng and unf..l.: '.: or ized c onve rsion whi ch l ead to blight . D. 1ehah ilitation of a ll substandard res identi al structures which a rc ? rese ntly u :-Lsu it o.b le for human hab it ation but where improvements c an be made a t a ~cas o nab le cost to bring them up to standard and where such rehabilitation ~oc s n ot conflict with other commu nity goals by 197 1 . .:.. -,"!r:o"Li~ ion within the q.ty limits o f Atlanta of all resid entia l s c:r;..:c tures whic:·, a re unfit for human habitat ion and where rehabi l itation w ':1 1' be pr oh "bitively expens ive or would otherw is e co nflict wi th ot her cu,:G,uni :.. y g oab by 1971. 'i: J~ 1' .

leviow and re-evaluation beginning in 196 7 on a continuing bas i s u , those

�r c 1 b ilitat ion areas whi ch have been t reated in previou s years t o dcter~ine their need for possible futur e systematic reinitiation of total rehabi l itat ion effort. II o Ar e as and Priorit i es : A. T e Housing Condi tions Map refl e cting t he survey made in 1963 ha:; be e n brought up - to - date. In this revision, close coordinat ion has be e n d eveloped between the Plauning Department, the Ho us ing Code Divi sion a nd t h e Director of Governmental Liaison. This has resul t ed i n an i mprove d plan fo r a city- wide , systematic, comp rehensive Housir.g Cod e Complia nce Prog ram . The basic map o f the revised survey indi c ates on a block bas is the f ollowing c ategories . 1. Cons ervation (Areas wh ich principally require e i ther no i mp r ovements or only mino r i mp roveme nts with occasional rehabilitation). 2. Intensive Conservat ion (thos e areas which bec a use of certa i n f actors such as age, tr a nsition in occup ancy or use, or adverse fringe influenc es, etc . , requi r e a greater amount of surveillance i n orde r t o foresta ll blight a nd decay. These a re as will normally re uire on ly minor improvements and s pot rehab i litation). 3. Reh ab il i t a tion (those areas in which the ma jority o f struc tures require rehab ilit a tion whi c h does not exceed 50 perc ent of their value ; some sp ot clearanc e is anticipated). 4. Clear a nce - Code Enforcement (predominately s maller areas whe r e the ma jority o f structures should be cle ared and the area re de ve loped. It is anticipated that these areas would be c leare d 2 1- 1- 6 7 �t 1rough code comp lianc e with emphas i s on demol i t i on. The only othe r correct ive a ctions to be t aken are t hose to a l lev iate haza r ds and to protect the he a lth a nd safety of resid e nts i n th e are a ) . 5. Clea r a nce - Ti tle T Urban Renewa l (those are a s in wh ich t he m.:ij or i ty o f struc t u r es should b e demolished, with some rehabilit ation , and where t he si ze a nd cost of the contemplated action jus tif i e s th~ use of Title I federal funds). B. The map a l s o shows division of t he city into halves, f or supervi so r re spo ns i bi lit y; each of t he s e ha lve s is sub-divided i nto fi ve Sec ~or s . Each o f these Se ctors is a ssigned to a Housing Code Ins pect or , a s h is a r e a of i ndividu a l responsibility. Co The map a l s o h a s on it area s o f v a rious si zes outlined s howing t he ne i ghbo rho od des i gnat ion with numbe rs r ang ing f rom 1 65 t o 1 69 . T:,ese areas indic ate where and whe n a n i n t e ns ive program o f s ys t e ma~ i c hou sing code comp lianc e is to be unde r taken on a house t o hous e basis . The ta r ge t date ass i gned to a particul ar area i nd ic a t es i ts r e l at i ve p riority . Those wi th a high pr iority hav e an early d a t e ; t ho s e wi th a lower pr i ority , a later dat e . Pr i orities f or the areas have been based on : 1. The numb er of compl i a nce inspections which the Housing Code c'. ivis ion c a n unde rt ake in one ye ar, wh i le maint a ining fu l l cit y- wide c0ve rage . 2" The relat io nship o f rehabil i t a tion a reas t o surroundi ng or internal commun i ty a ctivit i es, community f a cility development or Ti tle I Urban Renewa l Proj e cts . 3 1-1- 6 7 �3. Gene ral conditions in the particular area. Tho se with t he mos t pre ssing rehabilitation needs will be undertaken first. 4. The long range goal of compl ete housing code inspection of s~bstand a rd dw ellings by 1970 and comp liance in all designated rehabilitation are as by 1971. 5. An additional consideration in subsequent revisions will be t h e need in the future for more treatment in areas previously covered as bl i ght reoccurs. This item represents the first step in the c hangeover from a program with a fixed completion date to one on a continuing basis . D. Propo sed Community Facility Locations : map has been prepared which indicates the location of all proposed corrrrnunit y fa cilities and highways (exclusive of urban renewal projects) in the City of Atlanta . The locations have been indexed and color c oded to identify them and to indicate the agency responsible for their exe cution. III. Organ iz a tion and Adm inistration _A. Organization and Personnel for Housing Code Compliance, Department of Bu i ldings 1. Superv isor of Inspection Serv ices Fersonnel , Hou sing Coe Division a. Ch ief Inspector (1) b. Field Supervisors (2) c. Housing Code Sector Inspectors (10) d. Housing Code Ins pe ctors General (6) e. Housing Code Inspector II (1) Compliance Officer) f. Concentration Area Inspectors (10) 4 (assigned to Codes 1- c-o7 �- - - - -- ·-- -- - -- -· ··-· . g. 3. B. Clerical Personnel (8) Re lated Personnel 2 . Rehab ilit at ion Specialist b. Codes Comp liance Officer (1) (1) Duti e s and Responsibilities : 1. Supervisor of Inspection Services. Overall s upervision o f all forms of code enforcement such as plumbing and building with p rimary emphas is on Housing Code Enforcement, including coordinat ion with other Departments . 2. Personnel, Housing Code Division: a. Chief Inspector (1) Overall supervision o f inspections, field work a nd administration. (2) Coordination o f reloca tion efforts with Atlanta Hous i ng Authority . ( 3) Pursuit o f resolution o f difficult c ases . (4) Direct supervision of clerical personnel (5) Coo rd i nation with Codes Compliance Officer; 1 ehabiHt ab.an Specialis . (6) Tra ining program for new Hou s ing Code Inspectors. ( 7) Coordination with other Divisions of Department o f Buildings . b. Fie ld Supervis ors (1 ) Direct supervision o f five inspectors and their sectors compr ising one-half (};2) o f the City. 5 1-1-67 �(2) Supervision oi i ntensive program tea.ns and I nspectors General when operating in t he ir one-half( \ ) of t he Ci cy . (3) In- Service tra ining for ins pectors to include principl es of Housing Code Enforcement, select ion and schedu lin6 of work , and standardization of requirements and a cc eptances . (4) Ge neral conduct o f housing code compliance program \·.'.i. t:hin their one-half(~ ) of the City . (5) Assistance in resolution of difficult cases. (6) Ass istance in preparatio n o f court c ases when r equested by Code Compliance Officer . (7) c. Other special duties as assigned by Chief Inspector. Hou sing Code Inspe ctor II (1 ) As signed to Codes Compliance Officer to assist in preparat ion o f ca ses for Court. d. Housing Code Sector Inspe ctors : (1) Conduct of Housing Code Comp liance Program in their sector . (2) Primar y respo1,sibility for r es olution of all cases and comp liants in their sectors. (3) Prepare cases for pr sentation before the Better Housing Conuuission a nd City Attorney . (4) e. Assis t in preparing court c ase s. Housing Code Inspectors General (1) Inv estig a te, document and prepare c ases for presentation to Court and appear as witnes s . at t i me of trial (three i nspec tors and one Housing Code Inspector II assigned for this purpose ) (2) Preparation of cases for "In Rem" proceeding s and Demolition Grant Program (three inspectors assigned to these functions . 6 1- 1- 67 �f. Intensive Prog ram Housing Code Inspectors (1) Operate as team members (2) Conduct housing c ode comp lia nce pro gram in rehabili ta tion areas a ccording to scheduled priorities. g. Cleri c a l Personne l (1) Process notices, letters, records a.nd pre p are period ic reports . (2) Re ceive telephone c alls , prepare lists for Better Eo us ing Commission hearings, Ci ty Att orney he aring s and Cu u Y~ . (3) h. Re cord minutes of Better Ho using Commission meetings . Relat ed Personnel (1) Rehabilitation Sp e cia list (a) Public relations- - (promot ing g ood maintenance and Ho u sing Code Enforcement). (b) (2) Inspection o f ap art me nt deve lo pments ( 30 unit s and up) . Co des Comp liance Off icer (a) Re s p onsible for preparation and co nduct (i nclu di ng attendance in Court) o f Hou s ing Code Cou rt c a s t'.S ,, ith assist ance from Housi ng Code Inspectors and Supervisory Personnel . (b ) Advises Housing Code Division on re quirements for pro se cu tion of c ases in court, appropriatene ss of specific c ases for Court a ction a nd p r eparatio n of charges. 7 1- 1-6 7 �r--(c) Prepares Court calendars and reports on results o f Housing Code Court hearings. C. Notices and Fo llow-up Action I nspect ors will use standard methods and prescribed time intervals as a gu ide for their processing of cases. Written procedure is on file in the Housing Code Division. D. Coordination 1. Re location: Inspectors will fill out slips (on AHA standard form) to be signed a nd forwarded by the Chief Inspector to the Housing Authority for relo cation assistance to the families threatened with displacement by Hou s ing Code Enforcement, such as placarding occupied units, when a direct ive is is sued to reduce the number of occupants and/or units , when demo lit ion is :imminent, and for other reasons. 2. Community Facilities Chie f Inspector wi ll. cons ult map showing location of propos ed and scheduled conu-nunity facilities; will determine agency resp ons i b le for execution ; and consult and coordinate with that agency t o de termine exact extent and statu s of project and the appropr i ate Housing Code Comp liance Program for the areas at that time . 3. Public Housing No Hous ing Code Inspe ctions required. ( Existing units 8874; unde r construction 650; planned 1140). 4. Municipal Services In conduct o f the Hou sing Code Compliance Program , Inspe ctor s wil l 8 i.-1 - 6 7 �L. - be alert f or needed improveme nts in municipal services and other such prob l ems . Need will be recorded and r eferred b y the Ch ief Ins pec tor to the appropriate governiuental agency. Poss i b le re fe rr al age ncies are: 5. a. Sanit ary Department b. Cons truction Depart me nt c. Traf f ic & Street Lights De partment d. Police Department e. Wat er Departme nt £. Fire Departme nt g. Parks Department h. Board of Education i. County Departme nts of Family and Children Services j. County Health Depar t me nts Data Bank The Ho using Code Division will participate continually in furnishing certain types of information, obtained in connection wi t h its normal activit i e s, to be placed in the data b a nk. E. Comp l a int s All Housing Code comp l aints received wil l be recorded on forms provided and i n vestig ated within.one week and appropriat e action initiated i mme d i a t e ly. F. Written procedure is on file in the Ho using Code Division. Handling Unresolved Cases At t he e nd of each quarter, Sector Inspectors will thoroughly revi ew their unres o lved c a se files and determine what positive action s h ould b e t ake n . 9 1-1-67 �Proc edure f or handl i ng unre solved c a ses is on file in the Housir. g Code Division . IV.· Area Rousing Code Comp liance Policies A. Gene r a l: 1. Placard promptly vacant subst a ndard units and structure s considered unfit for occupancy and cause utility servic es to be discontinued. 2. Promptly report to the Be tt er Housing Commission and to t he Atlanta Housing Authority Relocation Housing Office (for relocation of families) those occupied units and structures cons idered unf it for occupancy. 3. In order to keep abreast of chang ing conditions conducive to deterioration and blight, each Inspector will endeavor to observe his entire Sector and initiate corrective act io n as needed. 4. It is anti cipated that each Sector Inspector wil l proce s s a minimum o f 20 new Housing Code ma jor i mprovement c ases per calendar month, and comply an equal number per month out side of rehabil it ation areas in which teams are working . Effort should be made where feasible to keep each Sector Inspect or's work load of uncomplet ed active notices to app roximate l y 200 . All Sector Inspect ors combined should comply at least 3500 units per year . B. Conservation Area s (See Hous i ng Map ): 1. Inspector will encourage maintenance and cons ervation 10 1-1-67 �verb ally wh ere e a rly sig n s of b light appear b u t no vali d c ode vio lat i on ex ists. 2. Hou s i ng Code ins p ection to b e made primarily on a complaint bas is. C. Intens ive Co ns e r vation Are as (S e e Housing Map) 1. Hous i ng Co d e inspectio n s to be made based on a n a p p ar ent need . Acc e nt t o b e cons ervation rather than waiting until rehabilitatio n i s ne c e s sary; Inspector will g ive more attention to details to discover a ny sig nific a nt chang es conducive to blight i n these areas . 2. I n s pe ctor will encourag e ma intenance and conserva ti on verbally where ear ly signs o f blight ap pear but whe re no v a l id cede v iola tio n exists. 3. The s e areas will b e c l o se l y examine d f o~ c o n s ideration as po ssible f ut ure federa lly a ss isted code enf orcement proj e ct s u nd er the 19 64 Ho u s i ng Ac t . D. Rehabilitat i on Areas ( See Hous i ng Map ) 1. These areas have· been designat e d a c co r ding to priority of need and pl aced on a schedule . 2. (See Map) These areas wi l l b e i ntensive l y covered ho us e by house by inspectors of an intensive pr ogram team ( 2 - 4 men). 3. Conduct of Comp lianc e Prog ram a. Al l Housing un i ts in rehab ilit ation areas will be inspe cted and ne c essary compl i ance notices issued or st atement issued that property is in satisfactory condition. 11 1-1- 67 �b. It is anticipated that three large areas (approximate l y 7000 unit~ and three small areas (app roximately 1900 unit~ will be covered this year (approximate total 8900) . Any cases remaining unresolved at the end o f this year will be assigned to Sector Inspector io r reso l ution . c. It is anticipated tlwt each Team Inspector will rnakC! approxi mately 7 new inspections or 7 first follow - up inspections per day. 4. These areas will be closely examined for consideration as possible future federally assisted code enforcement projects under t h e 1964 Housing Act. E. Cleara nce - Code Enfor c ement Areas (See Housing Map) 1. 2. Enforce Code only to: a. Placard where warr anted and seek demolition. b. Correct h azards. c. Reduce overcrowding . d. Vac a te unfit unit s . e, Clean up premises , Dis courag e rehabilitation a ction in ind ustri a lly zoned areas, especially in marginal cases. 3. Seek maximum coordination with other divisions of Building Department to discourage improvements other than to correct hazards of any housing units and structures in areas. 12 1-1-67 �f. Clear a nce - Title I Urban Renewal l. Proposed and Planning Stage Proje cts (See Housing Map) : Enforce Code only to: 2. a. Placard where warranted and seek demolition. b. Corre ct hazards . c. Re duce overcrowding . d. Vacate unfit units. e. Cle an up premi ses . Urban Renewal Projects in Execu tion (See Housing Map) : a. Issue no notices unless instructed othen,ise by Chi ei Ins pector (usually upon request o f At l anta Housing Authority) . G. Community Facility Locations, i ncluding Publi c Housing (S ee Conu~ unity Facility Map ): 1. Scheduled for construction or property being a cquired a. Ch ie f Inspector will consult map showing location of proposed and scheduled cormnunity facilities; will determine agency responsible for execution; and consult and coordinate with that agency to determi ne exact extent and status of project and the appropri a t e Housing Co de Compliance Program for the areas at t ha t time. b. Normally Inspector will issue no notices unless instru cted othen,ise by Chief Inspector. 13 1-1-67 �'-- ·- - - - -- 2. Planne d - co nstruction anticipated but not scheduled a. Ch ief Inspector will consult map showing location of p roposed and scheduled coITu-nunity facilities; will determine agency responsible for execution ; and consult and coordinat e with that agency to det ermine exact extent and status of pr oject and the appropr iate Housing Code Compliance Program f or the areas at that time. b. Normal action will be to enforc e Code only to : (1 ) Placard where warranted and seek demo lit io n. (2) Correct hazards. (3) Reduce overcrowding . (4) Vacate unfit units. (5) Clean up premises. 14 1-1- 6 7 �