Course Description:

This course is designed to empower code enforcement professionals with the knowledge and strategies necessary to foster positive relationships with community members while effectively enforcing local codes and regulations. Participants will explore how code enforcement can be approached not as a tool of punishment, but as a means of ensuring public safety, improving neighborhood aesthetics, and enhancing quality of life. Through a combination of case studies, communication techniques, and real-world examples, students will learn how to build trust, engage with diverse communities, and collaborate with local organizations to address issues proactively.

Key topics will include:

• The role of code enforcement in community development
• Creating partnerships with community leaders, local organizations, and residents
• Building team through connections with other departments and agencies
• Increasing voluntary compliance by fostering trust, respect, and compassion
• Effective communication strategies for resolving disputes
• Conflict resolution and negotiation techniques
• Enhancing trust through transparency and consistent follow-through
• Best practices for balancing enforcement with empathy
• Leveraging technology and data to improve enforcement efforts

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with practical tools to not only enforce codes effectively but also strengthen the sense of community and trust that leads to sustainable neighborhood improvements.