Responsibilities

The department is responsible for enforcement of quality of life ordinances and state statutes including the City’s minimum housing code, nonresidential code, and weedy lot and abandoned and junk vehicle ordinances and the State of North Carolina’s unsafe building statute.

The department’s rapid responders, known as the impact team, remediate noncompliant housing properties; abate public nuisances, such as litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, and abandoned shopping carts; and conduct neighborhood service projects. The department’s Community Engagement staff provides outreach and education to Durham residents and community organizations.

Strategic Plan

Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department helps ensure that Durham has thriving, livable neighborhoods by providing the highest quality of services to engage and educate the community, eradicate blight, ensure safer neighborhoods and enhance neighborhood revitalization.

Program Services

• Enforcement of the minimum housing code; nonresidential code; weedy lot, junk and debris, unsafe building, and abandoned vehicle ordinances
• Community engagement/education
• Public nuisances - litter, graffiti, set-outs, illegal dumping and carts
• Community clean-ups
• Financial/administration and program accountability