Code enforcement

{{Short description|Local government agency type}} [[File:German Ordnungsamt and street musicians in Cologne, Germany.jpg|thumb|Ordnungsamt officers in Cologne, Germany]] [[Image:Deltapatch.JPG|thumb|right|Bylaw enforcement patch from Delta, British Columbia]] '''Code enforcement''', sometimes encompassing law enforcement, is the act of enforcing a set of rules, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and ensuring observance of a system of norms or customs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Code Enforcement |url=https://www.caceo.us/page/WhatIsCodeEnforcement#:~:text=CODE%20ENFORCEMENT%20DEFINITION:,use,%20or%20municipal%20affairs.%22 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=www.caceo.us}}</ref> An authority usually enforces a civil code, a set of rules, or a body of laws and compel those subject to their authority to behave in a certain way.

A '''bylaw enforcement officer''' (also called '''municipal law enforcement''' or '''municipal enforcement''') is an employee of a municipality, county or regional district, charged with the enforcement of local ordinance—bylaws, laws, codes, or regulations enacted by local governments. Bylaw enforcement officers often work closely with police and other law enforcement agencies, but are generally not considered emergency services.

==Types== Various persons and organizations ensure compliance with laws and rules, including: * Building inspector, an official who is charged with ensuring that construction is in compliance with local codes. * Fire marshal, an official who is both a police officer and a firefighter and enforces a fire code. * Health inspector, an official who is charged with ensuring that restaurants meet local health codes. * Police forces, charged with maintaining public order, crime prevention, and enforcing criminal law. * Zoning enforcement officer, an official who is charged with enforcing the zoning code of a local jurisdiction, such as a municipality or county. * Parking enforcement officer, an official who is charged with enforcing street parking regulations.

==Commonwealth countries== In Canada and some other Commonwealth countries, the term Bylaw Enforcement Officer is more commonly used, as well as Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or Municipal Enforcement Officer. In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, various names are used, but the word warden is commonly used for various classes of non-police enforcement personnel (such as game warden, traffic warden, park warden).

===Australia=== In Australia, the terms ''law enforcement officer'', ''shire ranger'' and ''local laws officer'' are used for general-duty bylaw enforcement, ''traffic officer'' for parking enforcement only, and ''animal management officer'' (formerly known as ''ranger'' or ''council ranger'') for animal-related enforcement.

===Canada=== [[Image:Coq bylaws.JPG|185px|thumb|left|Shoulder flash of a Coquitlam bylaw officer.]] {{see also|Law enforcement in Canada#Civil law enforcement}} thumb|A Calgary Bylaw Services car blocks the road during the 2017 Calgary Pride Parade. In Canada, municipal law enforcement officers are generally referred to as ''bylaw enforcement officers''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/occupation/6683/ca|title=By-law Enforcement Officer in Canada|publisher=Government of Canada Job Bank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jibc.ca/career/bylaw-officer|title=Bylaw Officer|publisher=Justice Institute of British Columbia}}</ref> Every municipality in Canada is authorized to develop and enforce municipal by-laws,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/municipal-government|title=Municipal Government in Canada|access-date=2022-07-06|website=The Canadian Encyclopedia}}</ref> but each province and territory regulates the authority of municipal law enforcement officers differently.

In the Canadian province of Ontario, bylaw enforcement officers are generally titled municipal law enforcement officers, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, the term municipal enforcement officer is also used.

Rather than operate an in-house bylaw enforcement division, municipalities may rely on police services, contracted commissionaires, or private firms for bylaw enforcement.<ref name=PABLE /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citywindsor.ca/residents/Traffic-And-Parking/ParkingEnforcement/Pages/Parking-Enforcement.aspx|title=Parking Enforcement|access-date=2022-07-06|website=City of Windsor}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://municipalenforcement.ca/|title=Welcome to Municipal Support Services|website=Municipal Support Services}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rmalexander.com/p/by-law-enforcement|title=By-Law Enforcement|website=Rural Municipality of Alexander}}</ref>

====Duties==== In most Canadian municipalities, bylaw enforcement officers are tasked with the enforcement of the regulations or by-laws of the municipality, and usually operate on an as-requested basis with little-to-no proactive enforcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/BLES/default.stm|title=Community By-law Enforcement Services|access-date=2022-07-06|website=City of Winnipeg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hamilton.ca/government-information/by-laws-and-enforcement|title=By-laws and Enforcement|access-date=2022-07-06|website=City of Hamilton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbrm.ns.ca/cbrm-by-laws.html|title=CBRM By-Laws|access-date=2022-07-06|website=Cape Breton Regional Municipality}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.summerside.ca/residents/police_services/parking_bylaw_enforcement|title=Parking Bylaw Enforcement|access-date=2022-07-06|website=City of Summerside}}</ref>

In all three territories, however, as well as the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, some — but not all — municipal enforcement agencies also enforce provincial legislation and control traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iqaluit.ca/city-hall/departments/municipal-enforcement|title=Municipal Enforcement|access-date=2022-07-06|website=City of Iqaluit}}</ref><ref name=PABLE>{{cite web|url=https://panow.com/2020/07/02/bylaw-unit-to-be-operated-by-city-not-police/|title=Bylaw unit to be operated by City, not police|date=2020-07-02|access-date=2022-07-06|website=paNOW}}</ref> In Alberta and Saskatchewan, bylaw enforcement officers can be additionally trained and appointed as community peace officers (in Alberta) or community safety officers (in Saskatchewan). These community officers maintain a proactive presence; have additional authority to enforce provincial legislation and conduct traffic enforcement; respond alongside other emergency services to 9-1-1 calls; and, in Saskatchewan, field complaints for minor criminal offences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weyburnpolice.ca/community-safety-officer/|title=Community Safety Officer|website=Weyburn Police Service}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blueline.ca/cleaning-up-the-peace-officer-role-confusion-in-alberta-6175/|title=Cleaning up the peace officer role confusion in Alberta|website=Blue Line Magazine|date=15 February 2019 }}</ref>

====Peace officer status==== {{see also|Special constable#Canada}} All bylaw enforcement officers employed in Canada are peace officers; in most provinces, bylaw officers are explicitly appointed as peace officers or special constables for the purpose of enforcing municipal laws,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p15#BK18|title=''Police Services Act'' R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15, s. 15 (1)|date=24 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sasknow.com/2020/07/02/bylaw-unit-to-be-operated-by-city-not-police/|title=Bylaw unit to be operated by City, not police|publisher=SaskNow.com}}</ref> while in others, such as British Columbia, enforcement officers get their authority from court decisions that have ruled that bylaw officers are included as peace officers in the ''Criminal Code'' as "other person[s] employed for the preservation or maintenance of the public peace or for the service or execution of civil process."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bylawbc.ca/faq.htm|title=Frequently Asked Questions|website=Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association of BC}}</ref><ref>Criminal Code of Canada, sec. 2</ref>

===New Zealand=== In New Zealand, local governments such as district/city councils usually appoint persons to undertake certain enforcement duties. Councils can employ persons such as: Enforcement Officers, Animal Control Officers, Parking Officers, Noise Control Officers, and Litter Officers. These positions are granted role-specific powers under legislation. Common parts of their roles include enforcing bylaws made by the local council, such as dog-leash rules or parking restrictions during special events. Abuse against these government employees is commonplace and safety measures have started to take effect, such as body-worn cameras.

===United Kingdom=== In the United Kingdom, the word ''warden'' is commonly used to describe various classes of non-police enforcement officers, and sometimes the title of ''inspector'' is also used in various jurisdictions. An environmental warden in Edinburgh has duties very similar to those of a bylaw enforcement officer employed by a similar-sized city in Canada.

==Europe== ===Germany=== [[File:Stadt Fulda - Ordnungsamt, Land Rover Freelander.JPG|thumb|Patrol car of Ordnungsamt Fulda, Germany]] In Germany, order enforcement offices are established under each state's laws and local regulations, using different terms like ''Ordnungsamt'' (order enforcement office), ''Ordnungsdienst'' (order enforcement service), ''Gemeindevollzugsdienst'' (municipal code enforcement office) or ''Polizeibehörde'' (police authority). Beside this some German communities have implemented ''Stadtpolizei'' (city police) forces for general law enforcement. Currently there are no general regulations or standards for their training: their responsibilities and powers vary. The equipment and uniforms differ from town to town; some carry weapons and wear police-like or police uniforms, others just wear labeled jackets over plain clothes. Most of the order enforcement offices are established by the municipalities, but they can also be established by the rural districts for their area of competence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anwaltauskunft.de/magazin/gesellschaft/staat-behoerden/aufgaben-und-rechte-was-das-ordnungsamt-darf|title=Aufgaben und Rechte: Was das Ordnungsamt darf|website=Deutsche Anwaltauskunft|date=17 May 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paradisi.de/Freizeit_und_Erholung/Gesellschaft/Recht/Artikel/22866.php|title=Das Ordnungsamt - Funktion und Aufgaben|website=paradisi.de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.halteverbot123.de/ordnungsamt-aufgaben-und-befugnisse.html|title=Ordnungsamt - Aufgaben und Befugnisse|website=www.halteverbot123.de}}</ref>

=== The Netherlands === In the Netherlands, this service is called ''Handhaving'' (Dutch for "Enforcement") or ''Handhaving en Toezicht'' (Dutch for "Enforcement and Surveillance"), and the police-like uniforms carry this inscription in most cities as well. The officials of these municipal authorities actively address people who are against the city regulations and are present in public places.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rudutrecht.nl/handhaving/|title=toezicht en handhaving|access-date=2019-03-14|archive-date=2019-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413012634/https://www.rudutrecht.nl/handhaving/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The responsibilities of ''Handhaving'' include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amsterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/organisatie/stadsbeheer/toezicht-handhaving/|title=Toezicht en Handhaving|website=Amsterdam.nl}}</ref> * drug harassment or alcohol abuse * review of prostitution permits, detection of abuses such as human trafficking * increasing objective and subjective security in public spaces and public transport * the towing of dangerously parked vehicles

== China == {{main|City Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau}} [[File:Chengguan.JPG|Chengguan vehicle in Beijing|thumb|right|200px]] In the mainland of the People's Republic of China (PRC) every city established a so-called Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau, commonly abbreviated to ''Chengguan'' ({{zh |c = 城管 |p = Chéngguǎn }}) as a local government agency for bylaw enforcement duties.<ref>http://english.rugao.gov.cn/news/Show.asp?ArticleID=1822{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The ''Chengguan'' is part of a city or municipality's ''Urban Management Bureau'' ({{zh|c=城市管理局|p=Chéngshì Guǎnlǐ Jú}}).<ref name="cgj.suzhou.gov.cn">{{cite web|url=http://www.cgj.suzhou.gov.cn/english01.shtml |title=苏州市城市管理局 |access-date=2008-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121151344/http://www.cgj.suzhou.gov.cn/english01.shtml |archive-date=2008-11-21 }}</ref> The agency enforces local bylaws, city appearance bylaws, environment, sanitation, work safety, pollution control, health, and can involve enforcement in planning, greening, industry and commerce, environment protection, municipal affairs and water in large cities.<ref name="cgj.suzhou.gov.cn" />

==Philippines== Metro Manila has traffic enforcers, employed by the Metro Manila Development Authority to enforce traffic by-laws along with the Philippine National Police, as well as laws pertaining to cleanliness in the streets. They do not carry the powers of arrest which is reserved to the police and only issue citation tickets for violators.

==United States== In the United States, those employed in various capacities of code enforcement may be called Code Enforcement Officers, Municipal Regulations Officers, or with various titles depending on their specialization. [[File:Code Enforcement Vehicle, Flower Hill, Long Island, New York June 11, 2022.jpg|thumb|A municipal code enforcement vehicle in Flower Hill, New York, United States]]

Municipalities in the United States more frequently use the terms ''code enforcement officer'' or ''municipal regulations officer'' or Abatement Officers. Code Enforcement’s scope and duties in the United States vary drastically from municipality to municipality. Code Enforcement Officers often handle enforcement of Short-Term Rental laws, building occupancy, accumulation of solid waste, abandoned vehicles on private property & public right-of-way, overgrown vegetation, inoperable vehicle storage, squatter homes, homeless encampments, unsecured dangerous structures, businesses operating without a license or in residential zones, graffiti abatement, and other zoning related ordinances.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.codeofficersafety.org/ Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation] * [http://www.naceoi.4t.com National Association of Code Enforcement Officers & Investigators]

===Canada=== * [https://archive.today/20140806050621/http://www.oapsp.ca/ ONTARIO ASSOCIATION of PROPERTY STANDARD OFFICERS -OAPSO] * [http://www.mleoa.ca Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association of Ontario] * [http://liboa.homestead.com Licence Inspectors & Bylaw Officers' Association of British Columbia] * [http://www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca/en/services/pubsafe/pubsafe.asp Pointe-Claire Public security] * [http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=105,2439389&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Outremont Public Security] * [http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=2060,2447053&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Île Bizard Public Security (french)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031422/http://www.moncton.ca/Residents/By-Laws/By-law_Enforcement_Officer.htm City of Moncton by-law enforcement] * [http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=8177,89603648&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Montréal Taxi Bureau (Enforcement Division)] * [https://montreal.ca/en/articles/citys-mobility-squad-safety-first-and-foremost-10607 Montréal Mobility Squad (Enforcement Division)]

===United States=== * [https://www.codeofficersafety.org/ Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070723115329/http://www.cace1.org/ California Association of Code Enforcement Officers] * [http://www.aace1.com/ American Association of Code Enforcement]

===Australia=== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090205052816/http://warangers.asn.au/site_map.htm West Australian Rangers Association]

Category:Regulation Category:Safety codes