MuniReg

Hopefully a case of "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar"!
The City of Garland, Texas Government recently announced a drastic change in its approach to code enforcement, replacing criminal prosecution for routine property maintenance violations with a civil, compliance-focused system.

Under the new model, residents get time to correct issues before fines are imposed, first-time violations can be dismissed if resolved, and cases are handled through administrative hearings rather than municipal court. The city is also building in hardship protections and a digital compliance portal.

American Association of Code Enforcement Code Enforcement Association of Texas National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association

City to Transition to Civil Enforcement Program for Code Compliance • Garland, TX Building a Better Garland Together – that’s not just a phrase. It’s the shared commitment that guides how we approach neighborhoods, property standards and the quality of life every family in Garland deserves. A mowed lawn, a clutter-free yard, a well-maintained fence or parking lot – these ...

As highlighted by Center for Community Progress, proactive rental inspection programs are gaining traction.
They move enforcement from complaint-driven to systematic and preventative, helping communities identify issues before they escalate.
The result:

Better housing conditions
Reduced health and safety risks
More consistent, equitable enforcement

This approach treats housing as a public health strategy, not just a code issue.

At the same time, it’s not without challenges. In several communities, landlords are pushing back on these requirements, raising concerns around cost, access, and implementation.
That’s where ex*****on becomes critical.

These programs require focus, funding, staffing, and infrastructure, and success often depends on clear expectations, thoughtful rollout, and leveraging the right partners early, especially before full resources are in place.

Because like any tool, the impact isn’t just in adopting it, it’s in how it’s implemented.

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Urban Institute

What are Proactive Rental Inspection Programs?: Keeping Homes Occupied and Communities Healthy Proactive rental inspection programs protect tenant health and prevent future vacant properties. How local governments design effective programs and get results.

New York State Senate passed S2546 and is currently under review in the State Assembly. Per a recent article https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2026/04/21/copa-lobbying-push-senate-passes-zombie-homes-bill/ this bill would require "banks or other lienholders of abandoned multi-unit buildings (ed: bill appears to address all property types) to fix hazards that threaten the safety of neighbors"
"Current state law already allows local authorities to seize abandoned properties with conditions that pose a health and safety risk. But banks and other lienholders may prevent the seizure by entering into an agreement with the government to make the repair, even though there is no requirement for them to follow through on such arrangements. The bill authorizes local authorities to sue to obtain the property if the conditions are not corrected within 90 days of such an agreement."

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association


https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2025/S2546

legislation.nysenate.gov

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American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Housing & Community Development Network of NJ

MuniReg Blight Alert - National Strategies for Combatting Blight | MuniReg MuniReg Blight Alert - National Strategies for Combatting Blight

A recent update out of Georgia highlights a new approach to regulating HOAs.
Passed by the Senate and headed to the Governor’s desk for signature, SB 406 introduces registration requirements, stronger accountability measures, and a new administrative dispute resolution process to handle conflicts more formally and consistently.

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Georgia Association of Code Enforcement

The Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act and What It Means for Homeowners’ Associations | JD Supra A landmark homeowners’ association (“HOA”) reform bill is heading to the Governor’s desk for signature after the Georgia House and Senate passed SB...

A new report shows fraudsters exploiting vacant properties and postal systems to commit identity theft.
We’ve highlighted similar fraud risks before, and it reinforces a key point: publicly sharing vacant property lists can unintentionally create a roadmap for bad actors.

Transparency matters, but so does protecting sensitive data. It’s time to rethink how vacant property information is managed and who truly needs access.

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association for Community Progress National Housing Conference

Fraudsters exploit vacant properties and postal services for identity theft The tutorial, analyzed by Flare, outlines a low-cost, difficult-to-detect workflow that begins with identifying vacant residential properties, often found by searching real estate listings for recently rented or long-term unoccupied homes.

As scrutiny of large-scale investors in the single-family rental market continues to grow, this Urban Institute piece offers a more constructive path forward.
It highlights how institutional investors, often criticized, can instead be part of the solution by partnering with nonprofits, smaller landlords, and communities to rehabilitate housing and expand supply. In a challenging housing environment, collaboration, not conflict, may be the key to impact.

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress National Housing Conference

The Evolving Role of Single-Family Rental Investors—and How They Can Leverage Their Property Management and Rehab Capacity for Greater Impact Institutional investors’ scale and standardized processes could help expand capacity among nonprofits, small investors, and homeowners to rehabilitate and ma…

HOA and condo fees are quickly becoming a major driver of housing affordability challenges. A recent Wall Street Journal report (paywall) notes sharp increases in monthly fees, adding yet another layer of financial strain for homeowners.

We’ve previously highlighted how rising insurance costs and repair/material expenses are compounding the issue. Together, these pressures can push properties toward distress, leading to foreclosure, vacancy, and eventual abandonment.

If you’re seeing these trends impact your community, let’s connect. We’re helping municipalities get ahead of these challenges before they escalate.

American Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress Urban Institute National Housing Conference

https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/housing-affordability-hoa-fees-d02902af?

Surging HOA Fees Are Pushing Homeowners to the Brink Monthly costs of homeowners associations have jumped 26% since 2019. Owners can also be hit with special fees for large repairs.

A creative and pragmatic approach out of Selma, North Carolina introducing a structured “grace period” that prioritizes compliance over penalties.

By allowing property owners to resolve violations through an agreed plan, with the potential for fee waivers, the Town is aligning enforcement with outcomes, not just process.

It’s a strong example of how thoughtful program design can drive better results without adding friction for staff or residents.

Improving neighborhood conditions and public perception of local government? That’s a meaningful win. Agree?

American Association of Code Enforcement Code Enforcement Chapter of Orange County California Association of Code Enforcement Officers SWACE- South West Association of Code Enforcement Oregon Code Enforcement Association Iowa Association of Code Enforcement Colorado Association of Code Enforcement Officials Code Enforcement Association of Texas COAA - Code Officials Association of Alabama Kansas Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress

Selma Town Council Approves Code Enforcement “Grace Period” SELMA, NC – The Town of Selma Town Council has approved an alternative dispute resolution, or “Grace Period,” related to Board of Adjustment action fees, specifically for appealing Code Enforcement Violations received prior to January 1, 2026. All Code Enforcement violations during the describ...

For communities focused on housing stability, the latest U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights a critical reality: institutional investors are expanding their presence, but their ownership remains highly concentrated and relatively limited overall.

National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress National Housing Conference Urban Institute

U.S. GAO - Rental Housing: Institutional Investor Ownership of Single-Family Rental Homes Millions of homeowners defaulted on their mortgages in the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Institutional investors—companies that own many single-family...

Our latest FREE monthly LinkedIn Blight Alert!

The following was received after last month from a Councilwoman in a community of 500,000+

Michael, thank you so much for sharing these great resources. As we tackle the City of [ ]'s housing crisis, we need all the support we can get. It’s great to see what others are doing around the county and addressing idea that could work in our city. Thank you again!

American Association of Code Enforcement Code Enforcement Chapter of Orange County California Association of Code Enforcement Officers SWACE- South West Association of Code Enforcement Oregon Code Enforcement Association Iowa Association of Code Enforcement Colorado Association of Code Enforcement Officials Code Enforcement Association of Texas COAA - Code Officials Association of Alabama Kansas Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress

MuniReg Blight Alert - National Strategies for Combatting Blight | MuniReg From non-bank lenders to institutional investors, new players exist in the housing market. Along with a creative approach to recoup demolition costs, a new significant vacant property tax proposal and some direct, blunt and humorous comment from a Mayor, we are pleased to share our latest Blight Ale...

Not all heroes wear capes! Some sit in a Mayor's chair and make you chuckle when speaking bluntly and honestly!

Well done Mayor Mike Meintel!

"Meintel said that if his own sister is in violation of the new ordinance then he will absolutely order her to clean her property."

“I can’t make it any clearer, and it’s getting back to me that I’m going to have a lot of enemies or going to get sued. Well, you’re dealing with the wrong guy when you’re saying that. Okay, I got a real short Christmas card list,"

And, last but not least.....

"Everybody says the mayor ain’t having compassion. Bull, because you gotta give compassion to get compassion,’ he said. “Where’s the compassion for these people who’ve been living next to these crap holes for 20 years? Nobody’s apologizing to them. Nobody’s paying their taxes or anything. Where’s the compassion for them? So my compassion meter is pegged right now, it is what it is.”

As an aside, it does include a reminder that each notice costs $10

American Association of Code Enforcement Code Enforcement Chapter of Orange County California Association of Code Enforcement Officers SWACE- South West Association of Code Enforcement Oregon Code Enforcement Association Iowa Association of Code Enforcement Colorado Association of Code Enforcement Officials Code Enforcement Association of Texas COAA - Code Officials Association of Alabama Kansas Association of Code Enforcement National League of Cities ICMA - International City/County Management Association Center for Community Progress

Shadyside to impose $100-a-day fine for nuisance properties SHADYSIDE – Mayor Mike Meintel informed residents during Monday’s council meeting that the nuisance property ordinance that was recently passed will go into effect on Friday. “​​I hope people know how serious we are about cleaning up this town. I mean, I can’t make it any clearer,” Mei...